North American Birds Eggs. 



169 



356. Duck Hawk. Falco peregi'imis (iiidtini) 



Ranfi;e. — Wholcof North America, breed- 

 ing locally, cliieHy in mountainous re- 

 gions, throughout its range. 



This beautiful species, characterized by 

 its black moustache, is the most graceful, 

 fearless, and swiftest of the Falcons, strik- 

 ing down birds of several times its own 

 weight, such as some of the larger Ducks. 

 It breeds quite abundantly on the Facitic 

 coast and in certain localities in the Da- 

 kotas, laying its eggs on the rocky ledges. 

 Their eggs are similar to those of the 

 Prairie F'alcon, but are darker and l)right- 

 er, in fact they are tiie darkest, l)rightest 

 marked, and most beautiful of Falcon 

 eggs; size 2.05 x 1.55. Data.— Stark Co., 

 N.PD., May 4, 1901. Eggs laid on the gravel on ledge of 

 Collector, Edw. Dodd. 



[liutf or reddish buff J 



high rockv butte. 



356a. Peale Falcon. Falco peregrinus pealei. 



f Ilange. — Pacific coast from northern Ignited States north to Alaska. 



A darker form of the preceding, such as occurs in this section with a great 

 many other birds. The nesting habits and the eggs are precisely like those of 

 the Duck Hawk. 



357. Pigeon Hawk. 



Falco colli mharius. 



Range.— North America, breeding chiefly north 



of the United States except in some of the higher 



ranges along our northern border. A small Falcon, 



aiiout 11 inches long, often confused with the 



Sharp-shinned Hawk, hut much darker and a more 



stoutly built bird. It is a daring species, often 



attacking birds larger than itself; it also feeds on 



, mice, grasshoppers, squirrels, etc. They generally 



build a slight nest of sticks in trees, deep in the 



woods: less often in natural cavities of dead trees; 



and sometimes on rocky ledges. The eggs liave a 



brownish buff ground color, lieavily blotched with 



brown and chestnut. Size 1.50 x 1.22. Data. — So. 



Nest a platform of sticks, twigs and moss in a pine tree, 



Five eggs. Collector, E. H. Montgomery. 



[Brownish buff] 



Labrador, I\Iay 29, 1899. 

 3 feet up. 



357a. Black Merlin. Falco cohimlxd'ius surklryi. 



Range.— Pacitic coast from northern United States north to Alaska. 



Very similar in appearance to the preceding, but much darker, both above and 

 below. Its nesting habits and eggs will not differ in any manner from those of 

 the Pigeon Hawk. 



