ANNOTATED LIST OF THE BIRDS 197 



New York State. Birds from the Palisades visit the City for 

 pigeons at all times of the year. Reported as casual at Ossining 

 (Fisher). 



CENTRAL PARK. Likely to be observed at any time of the 

 year. I have had a bird strike a Starling within 15 feet of me. 

 BRONX REGION. Not uncommon visitor at any time of the 

 year. 



New Jersey. Resident on the Palisades; a very rare transient 

 or unrecorded elsewhere. One seen in the Plainfield Region, 

 January 1, 1910 (Miller). 



ENGLEWOOD REGION. Permanent resident on the Palisades. 

 These birds hunt in New York City so exclusively that they 

 are almost unknown inland. 



PIGEON HAWK (Falco columbarius) 



Next to the Broad-winged Hawk this dashing little Falcon 

 is more often misidentified than any other species, and for 

 some reason Sparrow Hawks are constantly " transmogrified" 

 into the rarer bird. The adult male is bluish-gray above, 

 white below, heavily streaked. It is so much smaller than a 

 Duck Hawk that confusion here is scarcely excusable. The 

 female and immature are brownish above, the tail with several 

 incomplete lighter bars. The female Sparrow Hawk always 

 has a bright reddish-brown tail with many narrow black 

 bars. Size differences are of no value. 



In our area the Pigeon Hawk is best known as a transient 

 along the coast chiefly in September, when it is often common. 

 Inland this condition is reversed; it is rare or uncommon in 

 spring, and much rarer in fall. Contrary to what many 

 believe and what is often stated in books, the bird is casual 

 between October 15 and April 15. A sight record at this season 

 is noteworthy, and should be authenticated with the greatest 

 care. The great majority of such reports are here regarded 

 as absolutely unreliable. 



Long Island. Fairly common transient, especially in fall; 



April 24 to May 21; September 4 to October 24; casual later; 



specimens taken on Shelter Island, November 22, 1898 (W. W. 



