LAND BIRDS. 291 



This dainty little falcon is one of the less common hawks, and although 

 it has been recorded from all parts of the state (mainly as a migrant) it is 

 never abundant and many a collector has spent several seasons in the 

 field without even seeing one. So seldom is it met with, and so generally 

 is it confounded with other small hawks, that the notes from our corres- 

 pondents are of little value in determining its habits. Like the Duck Hawk 

 and the Sharp-shin it feeds much upon birds, and thus should be con- 

 sidered rather an injurious hawk; j^et its scarcity saves it from this reproach. 

 Of 51 stomachs reported upon by Dr. A. K. Fisher, 2 contained poultry; 

 41, small birds; 2, mice; and 16, insects. 



We do not know that its nest has ever been taken in Michigan. The 

 nearest approach to it is the fact that an adult and three young (able to 

 fly) were seen, and two of the young taken, by a member of the University 

 of Michigan party at the Porcuj^ine Mountains, in Ontonagon county, 

 July 24, 1904. It would seem extremely probable that these young were 

 reared in that immediate vicinity. The same party afterward (Aug. 23, 

 1904) saw several, and took three, on Isle Royale in Lake Superior. Mr. 

 Norman A. Wood noted ten individuals at the Charity Islands, Saginaw 

 Bay, during the fall migration, 1910, from August 30 to October 10, and 

 took several specimens. Major Boies found it frequently on Neebish 

 Island, in the St. Mary's River, during summer, and had no doubt that it 

 bred there. 



In the far north (Alaska and the Anderson River country), according to 

 Major Bendire, it nests in May or June, placing its nest in hollows of trees 

 or on the limbs, as well as frequently on the ledges of cliffs. The eggs, two 

 to four in number, are soiled white or buffy, more or less heavily spotted 

 with brown and cinnamon, and average 1.59 by 1.23 inches. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Bill of the falcon type, with tooth and notch; second and third primaries longest and 

 about equal, only the first and second emarginate on inner web; middle tail feathers with 

 not more than four dark and five light bands. 



Adult male: Above, bluish-gray Avith black shaft-stripes, and much rusty and white 

 about the back of neck; under parts buffy, thickly striped with brown or black; inner 

 webs of primaries with numerous (G to 8) light bars or spots; tail mainly black, crossed 

 by four narrow whitish or buffy bands and narrowly tipped with same color; bill horn- 

 colored; cere and feet greenish-yellow; iris brown. 



Adult female and young: Similar, but brownish above, with less white on the hind 

 neck; the under parts less rusty than in the adult male. 



Male: Length 10 to 11 inches; wing 7.40 to 7.80; tail 4.65 to 5.20. Female: Length 

 12.50 to 13.25 inches; wing 8.35 to 8.60; tail 5.30 to 5.50. 



147. Sparrow Hawk. Falco sparverius sparverius Linii. (360) 



Synonyms: American Sparrow Hawk, Rusty-crowned Falcon, American Kestrel, 

 Mouse Hawk. — Falco sparverius, Linn., 1758, and authors generally. — Tinnunculus 

 sparverius, Vieill. — Falco (Tinmmculus) sparverius var. sparverius, B. B. & R., 1875. 



Plate XXIII and Figure 75. 



The tyi)ical falcon bill, small size, and rust-red color suffice to identify 

 tliis bird. A glanc'e at Plate XXIII probably Avill serve the same purpose. 



Distribution. — North America east of the Rocky Mountains, and from 

 Great Slave Lake south to northern South America. 



This is by far our commonest falcon, being indeed the only one which 

 is at all abundant. Occasionally it is seen in winter, but more often it 



