File:Useful birds and their protection. Containing brief descriptions of the more common and useful species of Massachusetts, with accounts of their food habits, and a chapter on the means of attracting (14563403580).jpg

Identifier: usefulbirdstheir00for (find matches)
Title: Useful birds and their protection. Containing brief descriptions of the more common and useful species of Massachusetts, with accounts of their food habits, and a chapter on the means of attracting and protecting birds
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Forbush, Edward Howe, 1858-1929 Massachusetts. State Board of Agriculture
Subjects: Birds Birds
Publisher: (Boston, Mass.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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ot to be compared with thoseof the bird-killing Hawks. The Sparrow Hawk, a great in-sect killer, kills fewer birds than either of the others, and isreofarded as a friend to the farmer. The other two Falconsare unconnnon or rare, and therefore kill few birds in thisState ; but there are three species of pernicious Hawks :the Goshawk (Astur atricapUlus atricapillus), CoopersHa^vk or Partridge Hawk (Accipher cooperi), and theSharp-shinned Hawk or Chicken Hawk (Arcipiter velox).The Goshawk is an uncommon or periodical winter visitant,but the other two are fairh^ conunon, and individually areprobably the most destructive of all the natural enemies ofbirds. They are slaty or bluish above, with rather short,rounded wings, and long tails. When flying at any heiglitthey progress by alternate periods of flapping and soaring.They may be known by their shape and by their mannerof flight. The Buzzards, or Hen Hawks, so called, get comparativelyfew birds, but some individuals kill poultry. The Red-
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PLATE XXXVI. — Barred Owl. (riiotoiiraph, from life, by C. A.Keed.) (From American Ornithology.) CHECKS UPON INCREASE OF USEFUL BIRDS. 367 shouldered Hawk (^Buteo lineatus) is the most common andalso the most useful. This species feeds largely on meadowmice. All the Buzzards are very destructive to field miceor other small rodents, and on the whole may be regarded asuseful to the farmer. These are the large Hawks, with long,broad wings, that are often seen soaring in circles. The Marsh Hawk or Bog Hawk (Circus hudsonius), along, slender bird, the male of which is very light in color,and the female brown with a white rump, is often seenflying low over the meadows. This bird also is a greatdestroyer of meadow mice, and is in general very useful. Owls. All the Owls kill l)irds, but most species kill but few,and live mainly on mammals, particularly rodents like mice,rabbits, and hares, on the increase of which they constitutean effectual check. The Snowy Owl (Nyctea nyctea) andthe Hawk

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