THE SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. 



497 



length: 10.00-12.00 (254-304.8) ; wing 6.60 ( 167.6) ; tail 6.00 ( 152.4) ; bill from 

 nostril .40 (I0.2J. Adult female, length: 12.50-14.25 (317.5-362); wing 8.00 

 (203.2) ; tail 7.25 (184.2). 



Recognition Marks. — Little Hawk size ; adult transversely barred, young 

 heavily streaked below ; barring of under wing surface conspicuous in flight ; the 

 distinction between the breast patterns of adults and young must be borne clearly 

 in mind to avoid confusion. Like ne.xt species, but considerably smaller: tail not 

 rounded. 



Nesting. — Nest: of sticks, twigs, and dried leaves; in trees at any lieight, 

 or in hollow trees and cliff crannies — sometimes old nest of Crow or Magpie is 

 tised. Eggs: 2-5, bluish-, greenish-, or grayish-white, lightly or heavily spotted, 

 blotched, marbled, or clouded with various shades of brown. Av. size, t.53 -x i.iS 

 (38.9.x 30). Season: ]\Iay ; one brood. 



General Range. — North .America in general, south to Panama. Breeds thru- 

 out its North .American range. 



Range in Washington. — Rather common summer resident and migrant thru- 

 out the State at lower and middle altitudes, more common easterly ; winters 

 irregularly. 



Authorities. — Jccipitcr fuscus. Gmelin, Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. v^urv. IX. 

 1858, 19. T. C&S. L-'. Rh. D'. Ra. D--. Kk. B. E. 



Specimens. — U. of W. P'. Prov. B. E. 



THE Hawks proper, of which this l)ir(l is a t}'pical representat 

 lack the spectacular wing-feats and noble bearing of the Falcons, but 

 still \-ery bold and rapacious birds. Indeed, it would be hard to pictur 

 alert and blood-thirsty creature than this sharp-taloned little Hawk as 

 the brush patches or open fields in search of feathered pre}-. The 

 the Sharp-shin is at times as swift as an 

 arrow and as direct, but it is skilled in 

 doubling and twisting: and no bird, save 

 a Swift or a Swallow, can escape it in 

 the open. Coming upon a flock of 

 Blackbirds, the Hawk makes instant 

 choice of a victim, and pounces like a 

 flash upon it, either 

 snatching it in mid- 

 air, or bearing it to 

 the ground and trans- 

 fixing it with claws 

 which pierce the vi- 

 tals and cause instant 

 death. If unsuccess- 

 ful in its open attack, 

 the Hawk will either 

 jiursue thru the mazes 



i\e, may 

 they are 

 e a more 

 it scours 

 flight of 



Drawing by Allan Brooks. 



SH.VRP-SIIINNED H.^WK 



CAPTURING RUSTV SONG SPARROW. 



