226 BIRDS OF FIELD, FOREST AND PARK 



Red-tailed Hawk. The male of this species 

 is about twenty inches in length, the female 

 twenty-three. The colors are much like those of 

 the Red-shouldered, except that it does not have 

 the red shoulders; but it does have a chestnut- 

 red tail, which has determined its name. The 

 back is mottled brown and white, the under 

 parts are whitish with brown streaks, and there 

 is a broken band of the same color across the 

 belly. 



It ranges practically over the same region, and 

 its feeding and nesting habits are similar to those 

 of the last variety. Its cry, however, is unlike 

 and quite characteristic, a shrill, long-drawn 

 note which has been likened to the sound of 

 escaping steam. They are resident throughout 

 the greater portion of their summer range. 



Sparrow Hawk. Of our common Hawks this 

 is the smallest and the most numerous. The male 

 and female are of about the same size, ten inches 

 in length. The crown is bluish-gray and there 

 are white cheeks, with black stripes before and 

 behind. I'he wings are slaty blue, barred with 

 black. TPie rump, back and tail are dark brown 

 with bars of chestnut. The under parts are 

 buffy spotted with black. With the female the 

 under parts are heavily streaked with darker 

 buff. The sharply curved bill is slate colored, 

 and the eyes are red. This combination of color 

 together with the rather sprightly bearing of 

 this little Hawk makes him, in appearance at 

 least, a very attractive bird. 



You will often see the Sparrow Hawk perched 

 on an old stub or telephone post on the lookout 



