224 BIR DS OF FIELD, FOREST AND PARK 



a chicken, apparently without fear of conse- 

 quences. He will sometimes dart into a flock 

 of song birds and with deadly precision pick out 

 his chosen victim almost before the alarm can 

 be given. Then away he flies to some safe perch 

 where he may devour his prey at leisure. 



This Hawk is about a foot in length, and the 

 tail is square, an excellent field mark. The 

 upper parts are bluish-gray in color, the prima- 

 ries being barred with blackish. The gray tail 

 has a whitish tip with black bars across it. The 

 under parts are white barred with buff. The 

 plumage of young birds shows more brown. 



They are often seen flying in small circles 

 high in air, when they may be known by their 

 small size and square tails. They nest in the 

 woods in tall trees and are permanent residents 

 in southern New England and the Middle 

 States. In summer they range somewhat farther 

 north. 



Cooper's Hawk. This Hawk resembles the 

 foregoing in color, except that the crown is 

 blackish. It is much larger, being about sixteen 

 inches in length, and the tail is well rounded, a 

 good field mark. This, too, is a real Hen Hawk 

 and is even more destructive than the Sharp- 

 shinned, because it is so much larger and stronger. 

 When once this Hawk has had a taste of chicken 

 it is not an easy matter to guard the flock against 

 his persistent attacks. About the only safeguard 

 then is to keep the poultry housed. These 

 Hawks will attack and carry away rabbits, 

 squirrels. Grouse, and under extreme conditions, 

 even full-grown fowl. Its range is about the 



