A FIRST GLANCE AT THE BIRDS 



in early spring, booms mysteriously amid the tall trees; and» 

 on the deserts, the sage-hen. 



The pigeon family is represented within our confines by 

 three species — the band-tailed pigeon, the mourning-dove and 

 the little ground-dove, which is to be met only in the extreme 

 southern portions of the state. The mourning-dove is the com- 

 monest representative of the order, and its sweet, mournful 

 note is heard during the breeding season the country over. 

 The band-tailed pigeon is larger, and generally restricted to 

 the mountainous regions of California, except during the win- 

 ter months, when occasional flocks range through the valleys. 



The birds of prey may be subdivided into three main groups 

 — the vultures, the hawks and the owls. Two of the three 

 North American vultures are found in the state, one of these 

 being the California condor. This unique bird, which is now 

 nearly extinct, is of immense size, about equaling the famous 

 condor of the Andes. It is a great black creature with a naked 

 head and neck, ugly and ungainly when alighted, but peerless 

 when calmly swinging through the air on outstretched 

 pinions. 



The turkey-buzzard is similar to the condor in plumage, 

 but smaller, and like it in ugliness in repose, and grace in 

 flight. It is very abundant in most parts of the state and valu- 

 able as a carrion feeder. 



Of our many hawks, the two most numerous are the western 

 red-tail and the sparrow-hawk. The former is of large size, 

 abundant everywhere and easily distinguishable in mature 

 plumage by the bright rufous color of the tail. The sparrow- 

 hawk is the smallest and one of the most abundant of North 

 American falcons. It is showily colored, with a rufous back 



[15] 



