210 FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 



Kest^ on rocky cliffs and in the hollow limbs of tall trees. Eggs^ three to 

 four, varying from creamy white, heavily marked with cinnamon-brown, to 

 pale reddish brown, more or less marked with shades of the same color, 

 2-05 X 1-68. 



This species is the " Noble Peregrine " of falconry. It would be 

 difficult to imagine a bird more highly endowed with qualities which 

 make the ideal bird of prey. Its strength of wing and talon is 

 equaled by its courage. No bird flies more swiftly than the Duck 

 Hawk. Even Teal — those winged bullets — can not escape it. No 

 bird is more daring. I have had Duck Plawks dart down to rob me 

 of wounded Snipe lying almost at my feet, nor did my ineffective 

 shots prevent them from returning. 



Duck Hawks are generally found near water, where they prey 

 largely on water birds. 



" Of 20 stomachs examined, 7 contained poultry or game birds ; 9, 

 other birds ; 1, mice ; 2, insects ; and 4 were empty " (Fisher). 



357. Falco columbarius Z2«;2. Pigeon Hawk. Ad. — Upper parts 

 slaty blue, a broken bult'y or rusty collar on the neck ; primaries barred with 

 white ; tail with three or four distinct grayish white bars and a white tip ; 

 under parts varying from cream-buff to deep ochraceous, streaked with black- 

 ish, except on the throat. Jm. — Upper parts fuscous or brownish fuscous, a 

 broken buffy collar on the nape ; primaries barred with ochraceous ; tail with 

 three or four incomplete buffy bars and a whitish tip ; under parts much as 

 in the ad. L., 10-00-13-00 ; W., 8-00 ; T., 5-50 ; B. from N., -45. 



Remarks. — Thi^ittle Falcon bears some resemblance to a Duck Hawk, 

 but is much small err 



Ravqe. — Breeds from the northern United States northward ; Avintcrs from 

 the Southern States southward to South America. 



Washington, not uncommon T. V. Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V,, 

 Apl. 1 to May 11 ; Aug. 10 to Oct. 15. Cambridge, conunon T. V., Apl. 10 to 

 May 5 ; Sept. and Oct. ; occasional in winter. 



Nest., in trees, in hollow limbs, or on cliffs. Eggs, four to five, varying 

 from creamy white, more or less heavily marked with reddish brown or choco- 

 late, to reddish brown marked with shades of the same color, 1-65 x 1-20. 



*' This Falcon, with the exception possibly of the Broad-winged 

 Hawk, is the least shy of all our diurnal birds of prey, and often 

 may be approached within a few rods. It frequents the more open 

 country and edges of woods, and is common along the shores of large 

 bodies of water. . . . 



" The flight is very rapid and resembles that of the Wild Pigeon 

 quite closely ; nor does the similarity end here, for while sitting on a 

 tree the general poise is that of a Pigeon in repose, and specimens 

 have been mistaken and shot for the latter bird. . . . 



