SPARROW HAWK 
360. Falco sparverius. 10.5 in. 
This is the smallest and one of the handsomest of our 
hawks. Cannot be mistaken for any other species, be- 
cause of its bright colors and odd marking. The female 
is barred on the back, wings and tail, while the male 
has but a few short bars on the back. The general tone 
of both, above, is a bright rusty-brown. This is the 
most abundant hawk that we have, and it is also best 
known, chiefly because it is found commonly in the vicin- 
ity of farmhouses and commonly on the outskirts of 
cities. Their flight is peculiar, a few rapid wing beats, 
then a short sail, alternately. They are very noisy in 
mating season and when the young birds first fly, their 
notes being a ~apidly repeated, * killy-killy-killy.” Their 
food is of grasshoppers, mice and rarely small birds. 
Nest.—Usually in cavities in trees, often in deserted 
Flicker holes, the eggs being laid upon the bare wood. 
They are cream colored, finely sprinkled and spotted 
with brown. (1.35x 1.10). 
Range.—Breeds from the Gulf States to Labrador and 
Hudson Bay. Winters in southern United States. 
