12 Notes on Sonic Ou'ls and llawks. 



Nests in holes in trees, lays 4 to 5 eggs. 



American Sparrow Hawk (Falco sparvensis): 

 pretty species may be seen hovering almost motionless in 

 mid-air, then suddenly swooping to ground. Seeks its prey 

 over fields and meadows. 



Builds no nest ; deposits its eggs in natural cavities of high 

 trees, often in deserted holes of woodpeckers, and in crevices in 

 rocks and buildings, sometimes in a deserted magpie's nest. 



Cavities usually contain no lining; eggs 4 to 5 in numb;'r. 

 laid in April or early part of May. 



Male : Top of head slaty-blue; several black patches on 

 side of head and nape ; back rufous, with black spots ; tail rufous 

 white tipped with a broad black band below it; underparts 

 white or buff, sometimes spotted with black. Length to to 11 

 inches. 



Common in N. America in general. 



Perched on a high dead limb or other point of vantage. 

 ii" eagerly scans the field below for grasshoppers, mice, sparrows 

 and the like. When prey is sighted it launches itself into the 

 air, hovers over its victim, then drops like a stone, seizes it in 

 its talons and flies back to its perch to feast. It is amusing to 

 watch it handle a grasshopper, very much as a squirrel might 

 eat a nut if he had only two legs. On becoming dissatisfied 

 with its hunting grounds, it will fly off over the fields gracefullv, 

 swiftly, now pausing on quivering wings to reconnoitre, now on 

 again, suddenly arresting flight to pounce on its tiny prey. Its 

 flight is not protracted nor soaring: never so hurried, so swift, 

 or so fierce as the small hawks; it is none the less active, and its 

 charming hovering posture gives its flight a special grace. 

 Kill-ee. kill-ee. kill-ee it calls as it flies above the grass. Lets 

 feathered prey alone until grasshoppers and field mice can't 

 be got. 



Remains paired for life. 



Rkd-siioitt.dered Buzzard (Buteo horealis): This fine 

 species, 18 to 20 inches in length, is also known as the 

 Chicken-hawk." and is very common in X. America. 



It pre}s upon mice, insects, moles, and small birds. 

 Sailing in wide circles overhead, the Red-shouldered is a 



