ANDERSON — THE BIRDS OP IOWA. 245 



migrant in nearly all parts of the state, and a few observers report 

 it as an uncommon summer resident in the northern part of the 

 state. It is more injurious than most Hawks, feeding princi- 

 pally on small birds. " Little can be said in favor of this Hawk. 

 ... Of 159 stomachs examined, 6 contained poultry or game 

 birds; 99, other birds; 6, mice; 5, insects ; and 52 were empty 

 (Fisher, Hawks and Owls, 33-37). 



There are a few nesting records from Iowa. "Mr. Lynds Jones 

 of Grinnell, Iowa, has found eggs of this species on May 2, and 

 writes me that 'in this locality they breed occasionally in hollows 

 of American Lindens, and in such cases the nest is made of the 

 inner bark of this tree, and of the wild grape vine, with a lining 

 of gra.ss and feathers. When built in a tree (an open nest) sticks 

 are used. It generally chooses limbless trees, most frequently 

 oaks, to nest in, from 15 to 20 feet up.' " (Bendire, Life Hist, of 

 N. A. Birds, 1S92, 189). 



W. H. Bingaman writes: "Breeds in the timber south of here 

 (Algona, Kossuth county), generally among the thick second- 

 growth burr-oaks, usually at the very top branches. Of course 

 it is not common — about one set every two years." Dr. C. C. 

 Smith gives it as a ' 'not uncommon summer resident in Winne- 

 shiek," and H. J. Giddings as a "common summer resident" in 

 Jack.son. Shoemaker lists it as a common migrant and uncom- 

 mon summer resident (P'ranklin), and Henning as a fairly com- 

 mon summer resident (Boone). J. Eugene Law took a .set of eggs 

 near Lake Mills (W^innebago) in the spring of 1S93. 



139- (333)- Aaipih'r coopcri {}io\\'3.-p.). Cooper Hawk. 



The Cooper Hawk or "Blue Hen-hawk" is a common summer 

 resident in all parts of the state. Its habits are much like the 

 preceding species, which it much resembles, and owing to its 

 larger size is much more destructive to poultry and game birds. 

 It probably destroys more poultry than all of the larger "Hen- 

 hawks" together. "Of 133 stomachs examined, 34 contained 

 poultry or game birds; 52, other birds; 11, mammals; i, frog; 3, 

 lizards; 2, insects, and 3 were empty" (Fisher). 



The Cooper Hawk nests usually in small or second-growth 

 timber, generally not over thirty feet from the ground, and fre- 

 quently ver}- close to farm-houses or barns. The bird is so quiet 



[Proc. U. .\. S., Vol. XI. | 34 » [Oct. 27, 1906.] 



