Descriptive List of the Common Birds 



hawk with long pointed wings. But it does not 

 make one dash at its prey after the manner of 

 the sparrow-hawk ; it is a strong flier and settles 

 down to a long chase in the open country. Its 

 eyes are dark. Natives call falcons dark-eyed 

 hawks, and sparrow-hawks light-eyed hawks. 



i6i. jEsalon chicquera : The Turumti, or 

 Red-headed Merlin. (F. 1264), (J. 16), ( + III.) 



Head and a stripe on the cheek chestnut. 

 Back and tail grey barred with dark brown ; 

 under parts whitish with black streaks and bars. 



This species lives largely on small birds and 

 often hunts in couples. 



162. Tinnunculus alaudaris : The Kestrel ; 

 the English " Windhover." (F. 1265), (J. 17), 

 ( + III.) 



Head, neck, and tail grey, back and wings 

 brick-red. Lower parts cream-coloured spotted 

 with brown. The red back makes the bird 

 easy to identify, as does its method of hunting 

 its quarry. It flies over the open country, 

 and every now and then hovers on rapidly 

 vibrating wings over some spot where it thinks 

 it espies some lizard or other animal. If there 

 is an animal there it drops quietly on it, other- 

 wise it passes on and hovers elsewhere. 



It is a winter visitor to the plains of India. 

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