HAWKS AND OWLS 227 



for his rations, various insects, mice, toads, 

 frogs, spiders and rarely, small birds. Often, 

 too, he is seen hovering on rapidly vibrating 

 wings over the field, then dropping into the 

 grass for grasshopper or mouse his keen eye has 

 detected. His prey secured, he seeks his perch 

 again, where his meal may be enjoyed. His 

 flight call, "killy, killy, killy,'' has given him 

 the name in some localities of the Killy Hawk. 

 While the name Sparrow Hawk is not deserved 

 in all cases, yet they do destroy at times many of 

 the smaller defenceless songsters. 



The Sparrow Hawk ranges in summer north- 

 ward into Canada, and winters south of New 

 York. The nest is usually built in a hollow tree, 

 or in the abandoned hole of a Woodpecker. 

 The four or five brown-spotted eggs are laid in 

 early May. 



Pigeon Hawk. This Hawk derives its name 

 from its likeness, both when perched and in 

 flight, to the Wild Pigeon. Its dress is not so 

 attractive as that of the Sparrow Hawk, and it 

 is larger, being about a foot in length. Since 

 their nesting range is north of the United States, 

 they are known in the Eastern States only 

 as migrants. They winter from the Southern 

 States to South America. In the spring they are 

 seen in migration toward the end of April and 

 in early May, and are again in evidence during 

 September and October. 



With the Pigeon Hawk the upper parts are 

 slaty blue; the under parts vary from light to 

 dark buff, splashed with brown. There is a col- 

 lar of rusty brown about the neck, the tail has 



