216 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



SuBGEXis ^SALOX Kaup. 

 FALCO COLl MBARHJ8 Lixx. 



l")-"^. Pigeon Hawk. (^S?) 



Tarsus, scarcely fcathereil above, witli the plates in front enlarged, appear- 

 ing like a double row of alternating scutelhv (and often with a few true scutella' 

 at base); tirst and second quill eniarginated on inner weV). Adult male: — 

 Above, ashy-))luc, sometimes almost blackish, sometimes much paler; below, 

 jjale fulvous or ochreous, whitish on the throat, the breast and sides with large 

 oblong dark brown spots with black shaft lines; the tibiiv, reddish, streaked 

 with brown ; inner webs of primaries witli about eight transverse white or 

 whitish sjwts; tail, tipj)ed with white, and with the outer feather whitening: 

 with a broad subterminal black zone and three to four black bands alternating 

 with whitish; cere, greenish-yellow. Female: — With the upper ])arts ashy- 

 lirown: the tail, witli four tf) five indistinct whitish bands. Length, al>out 13; 

 wing, S; tail, .">. Mah : — Smaller. 



Hab. — The whfde of Xorth America, south to the West Indies and northern 

 .South America. 



Nest, in a liole in a tree, or on a luanch, or r)n rocks. ^ 



Eggs, four, yellowish-brown, blotched with l)rown of a darker shade. 



This liandsome little falcon is a miniature <»f the Peregrine, and is 

 quite its e(]ual in courage and spirit, often attacking birds of much 

 greiiter weight tlian itself. It is not a connnon species anywhere, 

 and in 8outliern Ontario cait only be regarded as a migratoi-y visitor 

 in spring and fall. It is at all times a difficult matter to define the 

 precise breeding range of l>irds that are rare everywhere, and regard- 

 ing the summer haunts of the Pigeon Hawk we have yet much to 

 learn. As it has been known to breed in Maine and in Alaska, it is 

 quite likely to breed also in Ontario, where there is plent}' of room 

 for it to do so v ithout being observed. In the fall when the black- 

 bird.s get together in flocks, they are frequently followed by the 

 " little corporal," who takes his tribute without much ceremony. I 

 once saw him " stooj) " on a flock as they hurried toward the marsh 

 for sheltei'. How closely they huddled together, as if seeking mutual 

 protection, Imt lie went right thrf)Ugli the flock and came out on the 

 other .side with one in each fist. 



This species has a wide distiil)ution, going south in winter as far 

 as the West Indies and northern South America. In summer it lias 

 been found breeding in N«va .Scotia and in several of the New^ 

 England States. Mr. Macfarlane found it common in the Anderson 

 River regions. And Mr. Nelson says : " It is one of the most 

 numerous and faniih'ar birds of picv throughout the wooded portion 



