SIIARP-SHINNF.D HAWK 95 



wick in November 1874, and there are probably one or two other 

 records (Keid, 1884) ; one was seen at Cape Blossom, Alaska, on 

 July 26 and again on August 6, 1898; and Henshaw (1901) reports 

 that several specimens have been taken on the island of Oahu, 

 Hawaii. Macoun (1909), quoting Audubon and others, states that it 

 is rare in Newfoundland, but no definite record for the colony has 

 been found. 



Egg dates. — New England and New York: 30 records. May 5 to 

 June 14; 15 records, May 23 to June 4. 



New Jersey to Maryland : 33 records, April 18 to June 23 ; 17 

 records, May 9 to 25. 



Indiana to Iowa and North Dakota: 58 records, April 6 to June 

 30 ; 29 records. May 21 to June 7. 



Alaska and Canada: 41 records, May 7 to July 15; 21 records, 

 May 20 to June 2. 



Colorado, Utah, and Washington: 34 records, March 16 to July 

 18; 17 records, April 10 to May 17. 



Florida and Louisiana : 3 records, April 16 to 29. 



ACCIPITER VELOX VELOX (Wilson) 

 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 



HABITS 



This bold and dashing little hawk, the terror of all small birds 

 and the audacious murderer of young chickens, is widely distributed 

 in North America, very common at some season in practically all 

 the United States and Canada. Although it breeds throughout 

 most of its range, more or less rarely, its center of abundance dur- 

 ing the nesting season is in the eastern Provinces of Canada. 



It is best known to most of us as a migrant, coming along with 

 the migrations of small birds and frequenting the open country, the 

 edges of the woods, clearings, hedgerows, bushy pastures, and shore 

 lines, where migrating birds may be found. It is not a forest-loving 

 species and is seldom seen in heavily wooded regions. It has been 

 well called a bushwhacker from its habit of beating stealthily about 

 the shrubbery to the fatal surprise of many a little songster. 



Spring. — W. J. Brown, of Montreal, Quebec, says in his notes, 

 sent to me : 



The sharp-shinned hawk reaches this Province during the first week in 

 April. Some pairs evidently start nesting shortly afterward, as I have found 

 nests all completed and ready for eggs on April 24 while snow still i-emains in 

 the evergreen woods. * * * 



The sharp-shinned hawk is a common summer resident in the Province of 

 Quebec. I know of 50 different localities where at least one nest could be 

 found if time permitted, and I have no doubt that the bird is equally abundant 

 throughout the Province. While exploring new timber late in fall, I can 



