SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 103 



This persistent little hawk often pursues its quarry on the ground. 

 Sitting on some convenient fence post, rock, or low tree, it scans 

 the ground until it detects some sparrow or other small bird moving 

 about in the grass or herbage; it then makes a dash for it, chasing 

 the little bird with a series of long jumps, aided by its wings, until 

 it catches the victim on the ground as it crouches paralyzed with 

 fear ; or, if the bird tries to escape by flight, the hawk dashes after it 

 and catches it on the wing. Mrs. Richard B. Harding told me that 

 while watching, from a blind, a veery brooding a nest full of young, 

 she saw a sharp-shinned hawk alight on the ground and walk toward 

 the nest in a menacing attitude; the veery made a show of defense, 

 but the hawk kept on until Mrs. Harding rushed out of her blind 

 and drove it away. As young birds form a large portion of the food 

 of the young hawks, I have no doubt that the hawks systematically 

 hunt for small birds' nests to rob them. 



Lewis O. Shelley has sent me the following note on an interesting 

 feeding habit: 



Several times in August and September a pair of sbarpshins grew into the 

 habit of using a large meadow as a feeding ground, near which they probably 

 nested, and where woodchucks were often killed by the State patrolmen and 

 left as they lay. Of course, flies, beetles, and other carrion-seeking insects 

 gathered. After repeatedly flushing not only the pair of sbarpshins from 

 such carcasses but an occasional marsh hawk as well, I determined that the 

 two Accipiters were quick to recognize the presence of food and make use of 

 such a man-made accessory. Later on the sbarpshins became in the habit 

 of appearing at the report of a rifle, playing above the lofty elm trees, non- 

 chalantly watchful of the doings below. What instinct is this that told them 

 man was not there to molest them but the woodchucks, and that later these 

 same spoils would offer up to them a booty? 



W. J. Brown contributes the following note : 



I have sat for hours in a pile of brush near the nest waiting for the return 

 of the male with food for the sitting female. The male, flying through the 

 trees, approaches the nest very quietly, with the exception of a few soft call 

 notes meant only for the ears of the female, who, equally silent, glides from 

 the nest to the "feeding block." The moment has arrived when we can grasp 

 some idea of the wildness and ferocity of these small hawks as they squeal 

 and tear their victim to pieces. Tlie male is soon off far afield, while the female 

 returns to the nest — the greatest secret of all. 



Behavior. — The characteristic hunting flight of this hawk has 

 been described above. The lightning speed with which it selects 

 and seizes the luckless victim in a terrified flock of small birds is 

 astonishing and often too quick for the human eye to follow. I have 

 seen one dash at my feeding station and scatter a little group of birds 

 so quickly that I could hardly see what happened. It is not always 

 successful, however, as the little birds are very quick to dash into 

 cover. It often attacks birds in a playful spirit, perhaps for the 



