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66 PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA " No. 14 



122. Falco columbarius columbarius Linnaeus 



Pigeon Hawk 

 A rare summer resident locally in the mountains, occurring in fall migra- 

 tion in parts of the valleys. The status of this subspecies in its relation with 

 the next in tliis state is not clear. This form has been found in the breeding sea- 

 son at Flathead Lake (Silloway, lilO.Sb, p. 302). There are a number of records 

 for eastern ]\Iontana, most of them in late summer and fall. There are no records 

 later than 1902, ])erhaps indicating that the species is decreasing. Custer and 

 Dawson counties, common fall migrant; August 20, 1899, and September 5, 1899 

 (Cameron, 1907. p. 267). Lewistown, October, 1902 (Silloway, ]90;3a, p. 32). 

 Yellowstone Kiver in September (Allen, 1874, p. 64). Big Horn ^lountains, 

 August 27 (McChesney, 1879, p. 2391). Abundant along streams (Ilayden, 

 1862, p. 152). 



123. Falco columbarms richardsoni Ridgway 



Richardson Pigeon Hawk 

 A rare summer resident of northwestern Montana, also occurring in various 

 other parts of the state in fall migration. Summer record : Taken July 26, 

 1902, at Swan Lake (Silloway, 1903b, p. 302). Migration records: Bridger 

 ^lountains, September 5, 1874 (Grinnell, 1876, p. 649) ; Madison River, Sep- 

 tember 23, 1888 (Richmond and Knowlton, 1894, p. 303) ; two taken at Fort 

 Keogh in fall of 1889 (Thorne, 1895, p. 214) ; Dawson County, August, 1904 

 (Cameron, 1907, p. 267). 1 observed a bird that belonged to this species, but 

 1o whicli subspecies I could not ])e sure, at Flatliead Lal<e in July. l!)15, indi- 

 cating that the species still breeds there. 



124. Falco sparverius sparverius Linnaeus 



Eastern Sparrow Hawk 

 Birds referable to this form occur in eastern iMontana (Mearns, 18!)3, p]). 

 252-270). A specimen from Miles City, taken by C. F. Hedges, Septembei' 24, 

 1900, is referred to this subspecies. It is no. 5389 coll. of L. B. Bishoj). The 

 validity of the western race of this species has been questioned, but until Ihc 

 (picstion is setth'd both races nnist be listed fi'om Montaiui. 



125. Falco sparverius phalaena (Lesson) 



Desert Sparrow Hawk 



An a])iindant summer resident pra(;tically throughout the state, occurring 

 chiefly in the prairie regions and mountain valle.ys, but also found in the lower 

 iiiountain canyons up to the lower Canadian zone. It is somewhat less common 

 along the northern border of the state, just east of the continental divicU'. Exc(>pt 

 in this region, where the Marsh Hawk exceeds it in numbers, it may be said to 

 he the commonest Montana hawk. All observers record this species from all 

 pai-ts of the state. 



In spite of its abundance there are no definite dates of finding of nests on 

 record. The bird nests very commonly, and young may be seen just out of the 



