BUTEO BAIRDII.—Hoy. Baird’s Buzzard. PLATE XLI. Adults?

Of the several new species of rapacious birds of North America, which have been discovered within a few years, the bird now before the reader is one of the most interesting. It is the second species now ascertained to inhabit this continent, of a group constituting the typical genus Buteo of naturalists, which until a recent period was supposed to be peculiar to the Old World, the previously known American species being Swainson’s Buzzard (Buteo Swainsonii), a bird of the northern regions, little known and nearly lost sight of until recently by ornithologists.

The birds of this group are more active and Falcon-like in their habits than the other species of the North American Buzzards, all of which have been classified in other sub-genera. They also appear to be more strictly predatory in their habits.

The present species was discovered by P. R. Hoy, M. D., an active and enthusiastic naturalist of Racine, Wisconsin, who first observed it and obtained specimens in the vicinity of that city. In the same State, it has also been observed by the Rev. A. O. Barry, of Racine, and Mr. William Dudley, of Madison, both naturalists of extensive acquirements, who have done much to elucidate the zoology of that district. All of those gentlemen concur, however, in representing it as very probably a visitor only in Wisconsin, and migrating to more northern regions of the continent of America. In addition to their specimens, we have seen one other only, which is contained in a collection now deposited in the National Museum, Washington, and was obtained near the Great Salt Lake, Utah Territory, by Lieut. E. G. Beckwith, of the United States Army, in whose charge a party surveyed one of the proposed routes for a Railroad to the Pacific Ocean.

We have to express our obligations to Dr. Hoy for his kindness in furnishing the following notice of this bird for our present article:—

“Although never numerous, this fine Hawk is not unfrequently met with during the fall and spring, especially in the vicinity of Racine, but is exceedingly wary and difficult to approach, and as it is here an inhabitant almost exclusively of the prairies, the procuring of specimens even by an experienced hunter or collector, is almost entirely dependant on encountering it accidentally within gunshot.

“This bird may be readily known, though seen at a considerable distance or heighth in the air, by its long pointed wings and rapid flight; in the last respect somewhat resembling the Duck Hawk (Falco anatum), and in fact 258 looking somewhat like that species when on the wing. I witnessed not long since, a bird of this species flying rapidly, but he wheeled about suddenly and struck into a covey of Partridges with wonderful celerity of movement, and bore off in his talons sufficient evidence that his exploit had been fully successful. This bird possesses much greater activity of habits than any other of our Hawks of the same genus (Buteo), and its mode of flight is quite different.

“The favorite haunts of this species are the broad prairies, over which it may be seen generally flying or coursing around in quest of its prey, or occasionally perched in repose, but very carefully keeping out of the range of the gun. It is one of the most shy of our Hawks, and I have never known an instance of its visiting the vicinity of the farm-house, or disturbing the domestic poultry, as is done by nearly all other of our birds of the Falcon kind, much to the disadvantage of their reputation with our farmers and housewives. The present bird at least saves his character in that respect, for he never comes near, and prefers also that no one shall come near him.

“The prey of this species is principally Grouse, Quails, and other birds; but when opportunity offers, he does not disdain field-mice, or even snakes. The Pinnated Grouse, or Prairie Hen, as it is universally called in our region of country (Tetrao cupido), is his most common food, which, frequenting the prairies habitually, his pursuit of this bird is the cause of his being so constantly seen in such localities. Usually he has little difficulty in procuring a supply sufficient for his wants. I am under the impression that this bird does not rear its young in this part of Wisconsin, as I have never known its nest to be found, though I have of various other species. I have never seen this bird soar in the manner of other Buzzards. It is apparently a visitor only to this part of the State of Wisconsin.”

The specimens obtained by Dr. Hoy, one of which is represented in the upper figure in our plate, present considerable similarity in colors; but we have seen one other, which had the colors much darker, and the under-parts especially much marked with black. The latter specimen is represented in our lower figure, and was obtained in the neighborhood of Madison, Wisconsin, by Mr. William Dudley, Secretary of the Wisconsin Natural History Society. The specimen from Utah Territory is almost precisely identical in color with those obtained by Dr. Hoy.

We have no further information respecting this interesting species.

DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Genus Buteo. Cuvier, Regne Animal, I. p. 323. (1817.)

Buteo Bairdii. Hoy, Proc. Acad., Philadelphia, VI. p. 451. (1853.)

Form. Rather smaller than Buteo lineatus; compact and robust; wings long, and pointed; third primary longest; tail moderate, rather wide, rounded.

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Dimensions. Female, total length of skin, 19½ inches; wing, 15; tail, 8 inches, and about an inch longer than the folded wings.

Colors. Female (Plate XLI., upper figure), entire upper parts dark brown, with a purplish bronzed lustre, especially on the wings; plumage of the head and neck behind, and some feathers on the back edged and tipped with yellowish white; upper tail-coverts yellowish white, with transverse bars of brown; tail above brownish cinereous, and having about ten narrow bands of brownish black, and tipped with white; under parts pale yellowish white or fawn color, with a few sagittate spots of brown on the sides, and a stripe of dark brown running downwards on each side from the corners of the mouth; cere, legs, and irides yellow.

Younger? (Plate XLI., lower figure.) Upper parts very dark brown or nearly black, with a purplish lustre; under parts with almost every feather having a large spot of brownish black, which color predominates on the breast, presenting a nearly uniform color with the upper parts; throat with narrow stripes of the same color; flanks and inferior wing-coverts with circular and oval spots of white; tibiæ dark brown, with transverse bars and circular and oval spots of reddish white; upper tail-coverts reddish white, with their outer edges brown, and with transverse stripes of the same; under tail-coverts yellowish white, with transverse stripes of brown; forehead white; cheeks yellowish white; stripes from the corners of the mouth wide and conspicuous. Sex unknown.

Hab. Wisconsin (Dr. Hoy, Rev. Mr. Barry, Mr. Dudley); Utah Territory (Lieut. Beckwith). Spec. in Nat. Mus., Washington, and Mus. Acad., Philadelphia.

Obs. This bird does not intimately resemble any other of the American Falconidæ at present known, and is a well marked species, especially in the plumage above described as probably the younger. In this the nearly uniform brownish black breast and large spots of the same color on the other under parts are strongly characteristic. The plumage of the first described above bears some resemblance to the young of Buteo lineatus, and also to the young of Buteo pennsylvanicus, but not sufficient to require especial consideration.

To us it is a point of high interest that the present bird bears the name of one with whom our relations have been intimate and of the most pleasant character almost since boyhood. One who is a most competent and efficient officer of the first Institution in America for the diffusion of knowledge—one who has gained a rank amongst the first American zoologists; and better, no man lives who is more conscientious in the discharge of his duties, more respectful of all that renders life agreeable, or more faithful in his friendships, than Spencer F. Baird, of the Smithsonian Institution.

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