ONTARIO 



This species is much given to variation in size and 

 markings, making it difficult at times to distinguish between a 

 large Sharp-shinned and a small Cooper's Hawk. In the 

 present species the legs and feet are relativel}' longer and more 

 slender than in the other, the term sliarp-shinned being 

 no misnomer. They all seem to retire from Ontario in the fall, 

 as none are observed during winter. 



L 



134. ACCIPITERCOOPERI (BoNAP.). HSS. 

 Cooper's Havi^k. 



Feet moderately stout ; bare portion ol tarsus shorter than middle toe ; 

 scutellae remaining distinct ; tail a little rounded. Colors and their changes 

 as in A./hscus : larger, male, 16-18 ; wing, g-io ; tail, 7-8 ; female iS-20 ; 

 wing, lo-ii ; tail, 8-g. Whole foot 4 or more. 



Hab. North America in general, south to Southern Mexico. 



Nest in trees, mostly in evergreens. 



Eggs, 4 to 5 ; white tinged with green, sometimes faintly spotted with 

 brown. 



This is one of the Chicken Hawks, and it well deserves the 

 name from the havoc it makes among the poultry. It is most 

 common in spring and fall, but sometimes appears suddenly in 

 the winter and shortens the davs of Passer douicstictis when 

 nothing better is available. 



Cooper's Hawk breeds sparingl}- throughout Southern 

 Ontario, apparently preferring the vicinity of large marshes, 

 where blackbirds, rails, etc., are easily obtained. 



Extraordinary migrations of hawks are sometimes seen in 

 the fall, when for two or three days in succession, along a 

 certain section of country, individuals ot this and the preceding 

 species will be continually in sight. Flocks of this description 

 have often been observed at Point Pelee, near the west end of 

 Lake Erie, where the birds probabl}- gather when working their 

 way round the west end of the lake, in preference to going 

 across. Although a few remain during the winter, this species 

 is mostly migratory, arriving in April and leaving in October. 



137 



