100 Birds of Penjjjsylvania. 



bluish-ashy, tipped with white aiul with a wide subteniiinal band of black, and with 

 several other tiansverse narrower bands of black; inner webs nearly white ; cere 

 and legs yellow ; bill blue ; iris brown. ^^ 



Younger. — Entire upper plumage ilusky-l)r()wn, quite light in some si)eciineiis, 

 and with a tinge of ashy ; head above, Avith narrow stri|>os of dark Ijrown and fer- 

 ruginous, and in some specimens many irregular spots and edgings of the latter 

 color on the other upper parts ; foreheatl and entire under parts duU-wliite, the latter 

 with longitudinal stripes of light-brown ; sides and flanks liglit-brown, with pairs 

 of circular spots of white ; tibiic dull white, with dashes of brown ; tail pah-brown, 

 with about six transverse bands of white ; cere and legs grecnish-j'ellow. 



Young. — T'pper plumage brownish-black, white of the forehead and under parts 

 more deeply tinged with reddish-yellow; dark stripes wider than in preceding; 

 sides and flanks with wide transverse bands of l)rownish-black, and with circular 

 spots of 3'^ellowish-white ; quills black ; tail brownish-black, tipped with white, and 

 with about four bands of white ; cere and feet greenish-yellow. 



Total length, female 12 to 14 inches : wing, 8 to 9 inches ; tail, 5 to 5i inches. Male, 

 total length, 10 to 11 inches ; wing, 1\ to 8 inches ; tail, 5 inches. 



Hah. — The whole of North America, south to the West Indies and northern South 

 America. 



This falcon, a native of more northern latitudes, is rarely found in 

 this region except during the winter season, when solitary birds are 

 occasionally observed. The Pigeon Hawk is most frequently found 

 in the mountainous and heavily-wooded districts. Wilson writes: 

 "He is generally migratory in the Middle and Northern States, arriv- 

 ing in Pennsylvania early in spring, and extending his migrations as 

 far north as Hudson's Bay. After building and rearing his young, he 

 retires to the south early in November. Small birds and mice are his 

 principal food. When the reed-birds, grakles, and red- winged black- 

 birds congregate in large flights, he is often observed hovering in their 

 rear, or on their flanks, picking up the weak, the wounded, or strag- 

 glers, and frequently making a sudden and fatal sweep into the very 

 midst of their multitudes. The flocks of robins and pigeons are hon- 

 ored with the same attentions from this marauder, whose daily excur- 

 sions are entirely regulated bj the movtjments of the great body on 

 whose unfortunate members he fattens." 



In the few examinations which I have made of these hawks, only 

 the remains of birds — common pigeons and sparrows — have been de- 

 tected. From my observations in the field, as well as dissections, I 

 believe the Pigeon Hawk during its residence in this locality preys 

 mainly on various small birds. The following is taken from my note- 

 book in relation to a pair of these hawks : " Two Pigeon Hawks during 

 the late fall lurked about the southern suburbs of the borough of 

 West Chester, preying at regular intervals on the pigeons of a black- 

 smith. In one week the hawks killed or drove away fifty of the birds. 

 The hawks would enter the boxes and take from them the pigeons." 



