Nests are placed from 15 to 30 feet high, averaging 25 feet in elm, oak, and other trees.

Red-tailed Hawk: Buteo jamaicensis borealis (Gmelin).—This is a common resident east of the 100th meridian; to the west numbers are reduced, although the species is by no means unusual in western Kansas. Red-tails probably always were uncommon in western Kansas; Wolfe (1961) reports that they were "very rare as a nesting species" in Decatur County shortly after the turn of the 20th Century. Breeding schedule.—Thirty-six records of breeding span the period February 21 to April 10 ([Fig. 3]); the modal date of egg-laying is March 5.

Number of eggs.—Clutch-size is 3 eggs (2.6, 2-3; 20).

Nests are placed about 40 feet high, ranging from 15 to 70 feet in cottonwood, honey locust, osage orange, sycamore, and walnut.

Red-shouldered Hawk: Buteo lineatus lineatus (Gmelin).—This is an uncommon summer resident in eastern Kansas, in riparian and bottomland timber. Nesting records are available from Leavenworth, Woodson, and Linn counties, and red-shoulders probably also nest in Doniphan County (Linsdale, 1928).

Breeding season.—Eggs are laid in March and April.

Number of eggs.—Clutch-size is about 3 eggs (Davie, 1898).

Nests are placed up to 70 feet high in elms and other streamside trees.

Table 11.—Occurrence in Time of the Summer Resident Vulture and Hawks in Kansas

SpeciesArrivalDeparture
RangeMedianRangeMedian
Turkey VultureMar. 7-Mar. 30Mar. 15Sept. 24-Oct. 28Oct. 5
Red-shouldered HawkFeb. 10-Mar. 14Feb. 26Oct.-Dec.........
Broad-winged HawkApr. 4-Apr. 21Apr. 12Sept. 1-Oct. 20........
Swainson HawkMar. 24-Apr. 28Apr. 12Oct. 5-Nov. 2Oct. 11