RAPTORES. 91 
upon him are his death knell. We can only hope that he 
will not take down with him the manv hawks which are dis- 
tinctly beneficial, thus depriving us of Nature’s balancers for 
the injurious rodents and larger insects. 
126. (334.) AcCIPITER ATRICAPILLUS (Wils.). 170. 
American Goshawk. 
Synonyms: Astur atricapillus, Falco palumbarius, A. p. var. 
atricapillus. 
Goshawk, Blue Hen Hawk, Chicken Hawk. 
Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Sury., 1838, 161, 178. 
The Goshawk is so much like the Cooper Hawk that it 
is not known by more than a few of the more experienced 
Ohio ornithologists. It is larger, with a relatively shorter 
tail, and the general color is bluish-slate, so much so that the 
bird is often called the “Blue Hawk.” It is much more 
northern in its distribution, reaching Ohio only in winter, 
and then occurring over the entire state in small numbers. 
It seems likely that some of the northern winter records for 
the Cooper Hawk may really be for this species. The 
records of its occurrence in the state are too few to make any 
statement of the time when it may be expected to reach the 
state from the north reliable. It seems likely that it arrives 
with the first cold and snow. 
In food habits this species resembles the Sharp-shinned 
and Cooper Hawks, but its larger size necessitates larger 
quarry. It lives principally upon birds, the grouse forms 
contributing the most to its bill of fare. It can easily make 
off with an ordinary sized chicken, which it is very willing to 
come into the barn-yard for. It is so bold a hunter that the 
presence of man seems to make no difference whatever. 
Many instances have been recorded when it has picked up 
a chicken from the ground at the feet of persons who were 
feeding the flock. The Ptarmigan and Ruffed Grouse are 
favorite tidbits in its summer home. In summing up the 
evidence Dr. Fisher says: “Little can be said in favor of 
this Hawk, as the destruction of a few injurious rodents is 
a very meager offset for the great number of game birds 
