USA > Vermont > History of Vermont, natural, civil, and statistical, in three parts, with a new map of the state, and 200 engravings > Part 12
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Thisronv .-- The Fich Hawk is quite common during the summer along the ! 19 inches ; folded wing 13, reaching be-
61
BIRDS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 3.
THE BROAD-WINGED HAWK.
THE SLATE-COLORED HAWK.
yond the third white bar on the tail ; tail | eggs in different stages of enlargement, 8, reaching 23 beyond the folded wings.
IlSTORY .- In Vermont this hawk pass- es, with several other species, under the general name of Iten Hawk, but is some- tines distinguished as the Red Hen Hawk. It confines itself' more to the woods than several other species, where it may be | seen flying among the trees, or sitting up- sticks, and lined with grass, roots and on a limb watching for the appearance of moss. a squirrel, or some other small animal, up- on which he may make a repast. This hawk breeds in Vermont. Its nest is about the size of the crow's nest. It is placed in the forked branch of a high tree, THE SLATE-COLORED IIAWK. Falco fuscus .- GMELIN. made of'sticks, lined with moss. Its eggs, usually four or five in number, are laid in April. They are of a broad, oval form, granular on the outside, and of'n light blue color, spotted towards the small end with reddish brown. Whenever their nests are approached, they manifest much un- easiness, and their Kee-od becomes very loud and angry.
THE BROAD- WINGED HAWK. Falco pennsylvanicus .- WILSON.
DESCRIPTION .- General color of the head, back and wings above brown, tinged with buff on the neck ; wings very faint- ly barred with black ; tail short with three brownish white bars, and narrowly termi- nated with the same. Breast brownish buff spotted with white ; belly, sides and fc- morals, white with the feathers thickly marked with large hastate spots of yellow- ish brown; vent and under tail coverts white with a few spots. A brown stripe from the mouth towards the throat ; bill bluish black, nostrils oval, head large and flattened above ; cere and legs yellow ; legs short and strong ; tarsus shielded with parallel scales ; anterior outer toes slightly connected; space between the nostril and eye bristly ; wings broad, the fourth quill longest; the three first ab- ruptly notched on their inner webs. Length of the specimen before me, which is a female, 15 inches ; spread of the wings 333.
HisTORY .- This hawk bears a consid- erable resemblance to the preceding ; it is, however, though smaller, proportionally more thick and robust, less ferruginous, has a shorter tail, and is without the white marking on the exterior of the wings. The Broad-winged Hawk breeds in Ver- mont, and the specimen from which the above description was made, was shot, while building her nest, in Burlington, in April, 1840. Within her were found five
one of which appeared to be fully grown with shell quite hard and in a condition to be deposited in the nest. Its color way light sky-blue finely specked with brown towards one end, with a smooth surface. The nest of this hawk is about the size of the crow's, built in the top of a tree with
DESCRIPTION .- Form slender ; general color above reddish slate, the feathers being brown slate slightly edged with rufous ; scapulars and upper tail coverty with large concealed white spots ; wings obscurely barred with dark and light brown ; tail with alternate bars of black- ish brown and dark ash, five of each, the terminal bar being ash edged with white ; chin, throat and belly yellowish white, with a line or brown stripe along the shafts of the feathers on the chin and throat, and large tear shaped reddish brown spots on the belly; thighs reddish, lighter on the outside, with large hastate spots on the outside, making them appear barred ; un- der tail coverts pure white ; bars on the under side of the wings and tail distinct; legs and feet yellow ; claws black ; bill bluish black ; cere greenish yellow ; iris bright yellow. Length of each of two specimens before mne 13.4 inches, spread of the wings 24 inches, folded wing 8, tail 6.2, reaching 3.5 beyond the folded wings, tarsus 2.5, bill along the ridge .6; along the gap .8.
ILisToRY .- This hawk is very common in Vermont, and generally passes under the name of Pigeon Hawk. It is usually seen in our fields and pastures, flying very swiftly near the surface of the ground in search of its prey, which consists of small birds, mice and reptiles. It sometimes approaches our dwellings and carries off young chickens. This species is very widely diffused over our country, being found, according to Audubon, as far south as Texas, and according to Richardson as far north as lat. 51º. The nest of this hawk is built sometimes in rocky cliff's and sometimes on trees. The eggs are usually four or five in number, rounded at both ends, of a livid white color, bloteh- ed with chocolate. This is the Sharp- shinned Hawk, figured and described by Audubon in his Birds of America, I-100, plate 25.
62
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART I
THE LARGE-FOOTED HAWK. THE GOS-HAWK .-- COOPER'S HAWK, THE MARSH HAWK.
THE LARGE-FOOTED HAWK. Falco peregrinus .- GMEL.
DESCRIPTION .-- Head and hind neck grayish black, tinged with blue ; the rest of the upper parts dark bluish gray, indis- tinctly barred with deep brown. Quills blackish brown, with elliptical reddish white spots on their inner webs. Tail grayish brown, marked with about twelve bars. Throat and fore neck white ; a broad band of blackish blue from the an- gle of the mouth downwards ; sides, breast and thighs reddish white, trans- versely marked with dark brown spots in n longitudinal series ; under wing feath- ers whitish, transversely barred. Bill blackish blue at the tip, pale green at the base; cere oil green ; bare orbital space orange ; iris hazel; feet lemon yellow ; claws brownish black. Length 163 in. ; spread of the wings 30 inches .- Audubon.
ThisToRy .- This hawk is common to both the eastern and western continents. It is found in most parts of the United States, and, according to Audubon, has, within a few years, become much more condnon than formerly. I am not sure that any of this species have been taken in Vermont, but, from their being com- mon in neighboring states, the probabili- ty of their existence here is so strong that I have thought it best to place it in my list. According to Nuttall it builds its nest in the most inaccessible clefts of rocks, and lays 3 or 4 eggs, which are of a reddish yellow color, spotted with brown.
THIE GOS HAWK. Fulco palumbarius .- LINN.
DESCRIPTION .- Adult male, dark bln: ish gray above ; the tail with four broad bands of blackish brown ; the upper part of the head grayish black ; a white band, with black lines, over the eyes; lower parts white, narrowly barred with gray, and longitudinally streaked with dark brown. Young, brown above ; the feath- ers edged with reddish white ; the head and hind neck pale red, streaked with blackish brown ; the lower parts yellow- ish white, with oblong longitudinal dark brown spots. Length 21 inches ; spread of the wings 47 -Audubon.
IhisroRY .- This hawk is rare in Ver- mont, but is sometimes met with in the northern part of the state. The Gos- Hawk in Europe is sometimes trained for falconry. Its disposition is very savage, and it is withal so much of a cannibal as sometimes to devour its own young.
Their ordinary food consists of young hares, squirrels, young geese, partridges, pigeons, and other smaller birds and quad- rupeds. It builds its nest in the manner of the crow, in the central part of the top of a high tree. Its eggs, usually 3 or 4, are of a bluish white, marked and spotted with brown.
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COOPER'S HAWK. Falco Cooperi .- BONAP.
DESCRIPTION .- Tail rounded ; tarsi mod- erately stout. Adult male, dull bluish gray above ; the tail with four broad bandy of blackish brown, and tipped with white ; upper part of the bead grayish black ; lower parts transversely barred with light red and white; the throat white, longitu- dinally streaked Female similar, with the bands on the breast broader. Young, um- ber brown above, more or less spotted with white; the tail with four blackish brown bars ; lower parts white ; cach feather with a longitudinal, narrow, ob- long brown spot. Length, male 20 in., female 22,-spread 36, 38 .-. Ind. Legg and feet yellow; cero greenish yellow ; iris bright yellow. Tail reaches 5 inches beyond the folded wing .- Nuttall.
Ilisrony .- This is quite a common hawk in Vermont, and, with several oth- ers, passes under the general name of Hen Hawk. Nor is the name in this case inappropriate, since this hawk, more fre- quently perhaps than any other, bears off hens and chickens from the farm yard. This hawk breeds in this state, and ity nest, according to Audubon, is usually placed in the forks of the branch of an oak, towards the top, and resembles that of the crow, being composed of crooked sticks, lined with grass and a few feath- ers But that they do not build upon trees exclusively appears from the fact that a nest of this hawk, containing two eggs, was found, a few years ago, by George 11. Peck, Esq., built upon the ground, in Burlington. The eggs are usually 3 or 1, ulmost globular, large for the size of the bird, of a dull, white color, strongly gran- ulated and rough.
THE MARSHI HAWK. Palco cyancus .- LAINN.
DESCRIPTION .- Color of the male blu- ish gray ; quill feathers white at their ori- gin, and black towards the extremities ; internal base of the wings, rump, belly, sides, thighs, and beneath the tail, white, withont spots; upper part of the tail cin- ereous gray, with ends of the feathers whi-
63
BIRDS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 3.
THE RED-TAILED HAWK.
THE PIGEON HAWK.
tish. Iris and feet yellow. Female, dir- ty brown above, with the feathers border- ed with rusty ; beneath rusty yellow, with large longitudinal brown spots ; quills banded exteriorly with dark brown and black ; interiorly with black and white ; rump white, with rusty spots; two mid- dle tail feathers banded with blackish and dark gray ; lateral feathers banded with yellowish red and blackish. Length 22 inches. Male 1 or 2 inches less. Young very similar to the fionale .- Nuttall.
IfisTony .- This very common, species of hawk is also known by the name of Hen Hawk and Hen Harrier. It is very wide- ly diff'used, being found in Europe, Afri- ca, North and South America, and the West Indies. This hawk builds its nest upon the ground in swampy woods, or in marshes covered with sedge or reeds. It selects a spot a little elevated above the surrounding marsh, and the nest is com- pactly built of dry reeds and grass. The egys are usually four, bluish white, nud sometimes sprinkled and marked with pale reddish brown. This hawk feeds up- on partridges, plovers, and smaller birds, and also upon lizards, frogs, and snakes.
THE RED-TAILED HAWK. Falco borealis .- GMEI.
DESCRIPTION .- General color dusky brown tinged with ferruginous above, be- neath whitish with dark hastate spots ; wings dusky, barred with blackish ; tail rounded, extending 2 inches beyond the wings, of a bright brown or brick color, with a single band of black near the end and tipped with brownish white. Chin white, bill grayish black ; iris, cere, sides of the mouth and legs yellow, breast somewhat rust colored ; vent and femo- rals pale ochreous, the latter with a few heart shaped spots of brown. Length 20 to 22 inches, spread of the wings 45 inches .- Nuttall.
Hisronv .- The Red Tailed Hawk, ac- cording to Audubon, is a constant resi- dent in all parts of the United States. This hawk feeds upon young hares and other small quadrupeds and birds. He is so strong and powerful as to be able to overcome and bear off' doves, goslings and dunghill fowls, and his depredations upon the farmer's poultry yard are by no means of rare occurrence. And yet he is so shy and wary, that it is extremely difficult to approach near enough to shoot him with a gun, of the use of which he, like the crow, seems to have an intuitive knowl- edge. The best method of getting a shot at these wary birds in open land is to ap- proach them on horseback. The Red-
Tailed Hawk breeds in Vermont. Its nest is built in the fork of' a lofty tree, and is composed of sticks, twigs, coarse grass and moss. The eggs are I or 5, of a dull white color, blotched with brown and black.
THE PIGEON HAWK. Falco columbarius, LINN.
DESCRIPTION .- Whole upper parts of a deep dusky brown except the tail which is crossed by five narrow whitish bars ; beneath yellowish or reddish white, spot- ted and streaked with brown. The bill is of a light bluish gray, tipped with black ; cere and skin round the eye green- ish ; iris deep hazel ; legs yellow ; claws black ; feathers on the thighs remark- ably long. Female with the cere and legs greenish yellow ; upper parts dark gray- ish brown ; the lower pale and spotted as in the male. Young with the head red- dish brown, streaked with dusky, in other respects resembling the female. Length of the male 11 inches, spread of the wings 23 .- Nutt. Aud.
HISTORY .- The Pigeon Hawk is much less comminon than several other of the smaller species of hawk. Audubon in- forms us that this hawk breeds in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Labrador. The nests are usually placed upon the top of small firs with which those countries abound, at the height of 10 or 12 feet from the ground. They are built of sticks slightly lined with moss and feathers. The eggs are usually five, and are an inch and three quarters in length. Their ground color is a dull yellowish brown, thickly clouded with irregular blotches of dull dark reddish brown. This hawk is shy and watchful, seldom being seen out of the forests. It feeds upon small birds, mice and reptiles.
GENUS STRIX.
Generic Characters .- Beak compressed, bent from its origin ; base surrounded by a cere, covered wholly, or in part, by stal erect hairs ; head large, inveh feathered ; nostrils lateral, rounded, open, pierced in the anterior margin of the cere, conecated by hairs directed forwards ; eyes very large ; orbits surrounded by feathers ; tous and feet feathered, frequently to the very claus . fet with three toes before and one behind, se parate ; the exterior reversible ; first quills don- tated on their anterior border, the third longest.
This Genns embraces the Ow! Family, and is now divided by naturalists into no less than six genera. The owls are called nocturnal birds of prey, because they seck their prey chiefly by I night. The pupil of the Owl's eye is so large
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PART I.
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
THE SCREECH OWL.
THE HAWK OWL.
THE SNOWY OWL.
and admits so many rays of light that they are dazzled, and unable to see by the full light of day, bit by faint twilight and by moonlight they appear to see clearly. Several of the species are furnish- ed with ear-liko tufts, and are called horned owls.
THE SCREECII OWL. Strix asio .- LINN.
Bubo asio .- Aud. Birds Am. I-147, pl. 40.
DESCRIPTION .- Upper parts pale brown, spotted and dotted with brownish black ; u pale gray line from the base of the up- per mandible over each eye ; quills light brownish gray, barred with brownish black ; their coverts dark brown ; secon- dary covertswith the tips white; throat yel- lowish gray, lower parts light gray, patch- ed and sprinkled with brownish black ; tail feathers tinged with red. Young, with upper parts light brownish red ; each feather with a central blackish brown line ; tail and quills barred with dull brown; a line over the eye and the tips of the secondary coverts reddish white ; breast and sides light yellowish gray, spot- ted and lined with brownish black and bright reddish brown ; the rest of the low- er parts yellowish gray ; the tarsal feath- ers pale yellowish red. Length 10 inch- es; spread 23 .- Aud.
HISTORY .- This little owl is found in nearly all parts of the United States, but is much more common in northern than in southern sections. The Screech Owl is by no means rare in Vermont, and ma- ny a Green Mountain lad, as he has been passing through a wood in a dark night has felt his hair rise, his heart leap, and himself flying as upon wings of the wind, at the terrific scream of this bird, perched in a tree just over his head. Al- though more common in the fall and fore part of winter, many of them spend the summer and rear their young in this state. Their nest, which is made of grass and feathers, is placed at the bottom of a hollow tree or stub, often not more than 6 or 8 feet from the ground. The eggs are white, of a globular form, and usually 4 or 5 in number. Only one brood is raised m a season. The young become
fully feathered in August, when they ap- pear as described above. This owl is of'- ten designated as the Little Sercech Owl, and is also called the Mottled Owl.
THIE HAWK OWL.
Strix funerca .- GMELIN.
Surnia funerca-Aud. Am. Birds, 1-112, pl. 27.
DESCRIPTION .- Tail long, much round- ed, the lateral feathers two inches shorter than the middle. Upper part of the head brownish-black, closely spotted with white ; hind neck black, with two broad longitudinal bands of white spots; the rest of the upper part dark brown, spotted with white; tail with eight transverse bars of white, the feathers tipped with the same; facial disks grayish white, mar- gined with black ; lower parts transverse- ly barred with brown and dull white .- Aud. Bill yellow ; feet thickly feather- ed; nails horn-color .- Nutt. Length of the male 16 inches ; spread of the wings 32 ; female larger.
HISTORY .- This species forms the con- necting link between the hawks and the owls, having, in several respects, a con- siderable resemblance to both, and hence its name, Hawk-Owl. We are informed by Dr. Richardson that this owl is com- mon throughout the for countries from Hudson's bay to the Pacific ocean, and that it is more frequently shot than any other. It must, however, be a rare bird in the United States, generally, since the indefatigable Audubon confesses that he has never seen it alive. But it is because he has not visited the north part of our own state that he has been denied this pleasure ; for he is assured by no less au- thority than Dr. Thomas M. Brewer, of Boston, that the Hawk-Owl is so comnon about Memphremagog lake in Vermont, that a dozen of them may be procured by a good gunner in a day, and that their nests, which are in hollow trees, are frequently met with. Its eggs, according to Rich- ardson, are white, and usually two in number.
THE SNOWY OWL.
Stric nyctca .- LINNAEUS.
Surnia nycteu .- And. Am. Birds, I-113, pl. 28.
DESCRIPTION .-- General color white, more or less spotted and barred with brown ; the tail rounded and extending a little beyond the folded wings; the sec- ond and fourth quills equal, the third lon- gest ; bill bluish black, curved from the base ; upper mandible thickly studded with stitt, bristly white feathers; throat and legs covered with soft, pure white
65
BIRDS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 3.
THE GREAT HORNED OWL.
THE CINEREOUS OWL.
down, which becomes hairy upon the feet, and nearly conceals his long, black, and sharp claws. Length of the specimen be- fore ine 27 inches ; spread of the wings 50 inches ; longest quill 15 inches.
HISTORY .- The principal residence of this species of owls is in the northern- most parts of both the eastern and west- ern continents. . It is very common in Lapland, Iceland, and in the countries around Hudson's Bay, and its large size and thick downy plumage are well fitted to resist the climate of those icy regions. " In those dreary wilds, surrounded by almost perpetual winter, he dwells, breeds and obtains his subsistence. Ilis white robe renders him scarcely discernible from the overwhelming snows where he reigns like the boreal spirit of the storm. His loud, hollow, barking growl, 'schoich 'achoich, 'tohotch, hah, hah, huh, and other more dismal cries, sound like the unearth- ly ban of the infernal Cerberus, and heard amidst a region of cheerless soli- tude, his lonely and terrific voice aug- ments rather than relieves the horrors of the scene."* The Snowy Owl seeks his food by day as well as by night, and in the midst of winter many of them are compelled to proceed to the southward to procure the means of subsistence. At such times they are seen, usually in pairs, in various parts of the U. States. They do not make their appearance in Vermont until winter is fully set in, and leave us with the earliest indications of spring. They breed in the regions far to the north, and are said to make their nest upon steep rocks, or old pine trees, and to lay two eggs, which are of a pure white. They feed upon other birds, mice, rats, and other small quadrupeds.
THE GREAT HORNED OWL.
Strix virginiana .- GMEL.
Bubo virginianas .- AUD, Am. Birds, 1-143, pl. 39.
DESCRIPTION .- Bill black ; iris bright yellow. Above whitish and ferruginous, thickly mottled with dusky ; face ferru- ginous, bounded by a band of black. A whitish space between the bill and the eyes. Beneath marked with numerous transverse dusky bars on a yellow and white ground ; veut paler. Feet covered with hair-like pale brown feathers; tail rounded and broad, reaching an inch be- yond the wings, mottled with brown and tawny and crossed with 6 or 7 narrow bars of brown ; chin whitish. Horns broad, 3 inches long, formed of 1 or 11 feathers, with black webs and edged with
brownish yellow. Length of the male 21 inches, female 2 inches longer .- Nutt.
HISTORY .- This is one of the largest species of American Owls, and is found through all the regions from the gulf of Mexico to Hudson's bay. It breeds in this state and in some of the unsettled woody parts is quite common. Its nest, which is large, is built of dry sticks and lined with leaves and some feathers. The eggs are from three to six in number, about the size of those of the common len, but rounder and of a yellowish white color. This owl is often called the Cat Owl, from the resemblance of its face to that of the cat. It confines itself mostly to the retired and dark thickets of the for- ests, and particularly to thickets of spruce and otherevergreens, and, in many places during the summer these owls may be heard responding to one another their waugh ho! waugh ha! waugh hoo-during the whole night. Their food consists of various kinds of birds, hares, squirrels and other quadrupeds, and they some- times come around our barns, and carry off our domestic fowls. These owls are said sometimes to have pounced upon cats, mistaking them perhaps for rabbits, but finding themselves to have caught a Tartar, they are generally very willing to relinquish their grasp.
THE CINEREOUS OWL. Strix cinercu .- GMEL.
Syrnium cinercum .- Aud. Am. Birds, I-130, pl. 35.
DESCRIPTION .- Upper parts grayish brown, variegated with grayish white in irregular undulated markings; the feathers on the upper part of the head with two transverse white spots on each web ; tho smaller wing-coverts of a darker brown, and less mottled than the back ; the outer scapulars with more white on their outer webs ; primaries blackish-brown toward the end, in the rest of their extent mark- ed with a few broad light-gray oblique bands, dotted and undulated with darker ; tail similarly barred ; ruff-feathers white towards the end, dark brown in the cen- tre ; disks on their inner sides gray, with black tips, in the rest of their extent grayish-white with 6 bars of blackish- brown irregularly disposed in a concen- trie manner ; lower parts grayish-brown, variegated with grayish and yellowish white ; feet barred with the same. Length 304 inches ; spread, 48 .- dad.
HISTORY .- This is the largest species of owl known in this country. It is only occasionally met with in the northern parts of the United States, but further north it is by no means a rare bird, being
* Nuttall.
Pr. 1.
66
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART I.
THE SHORT-EARED OWL.
THE BARRED OWL. THE SAW-WHET.
according to Dr. Richardson common in [ of the eye ends in long black hairs ; bill the woody districts between Hudson's Bay yellow ; legs covered with feathers, ex- tremities of the toes covered with scales; nails long, sharp, and of a dark horn color. Length 20 inches. and the Pacific ocean, as far north as the G3º of latitude. Dr. R. found a nest of one of these owls on the 22d of May, containing three young. It was built of sticks on the top of a balsam poplar, and was lined with feathers. The eggs are said to be spotted. This owl is rarely seen in this state, but occasionally makes his appearance here in the depth of win- ter.
THE SHORT-EARED OWL. Strix brachyota .- LATHAM.
Otus brachyotus -- Aud. Am. Birds 1-110, pl. 38.
DESCRIPTION .-- Ear-like tufts inconspie- uous, consisting of 2 or 3 short feathers ; general color ochreous spotted with black- ish-brown ; face round, the eyes blackish ; tail ochreous with about 5 brown bands, not extending beyond the wings, and tipped with white ; beneath yellow with longitudinal spots of blackish-brown ; iris bright yellow ; bill black ; feet and toes feathered. Female with the general tints paler. Length from 13 to 15 inches .- Nutt.
HISTORY .- This species migrate to the south in the fall, and during the winter are so numerous in Florida that Audubon says that he has shot no less than seven of them in a single morning. They pro- ceed to the north on the approach of spring for the purpose of rearing their young, but some of them are known to spend the summer, and, occasionally, to breed as far south as Pennsylvania. This owl is found in Vermont, and I am as- sured by Dr. Brewer that it breeds in the northeastern part of the state. It builds its nest upon the ground, and its eggs, which are about four, are of a dull bluish white color. The short-cared owl is attracted by nocturnal fires, and will sometimes approach so near as to be knocked down with a stick.
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