PIGEON HAWK 

 357. Falco columbarius. 12 in. 



Adult male, bluish slate above, with black shaft lines 

 to the feathers; below buffy on the breast, sides and 

 thighs; streaked on the breast and barred on the flanks 

 with black; tai 1 with four black bands. Female and 

 young, blackish brown above; below streaked with 

 dusky. These little falcons are very bold and coura- 

 geous when led by the pangs of hunger, chasing their 

 prey close to human beings, and they have been known 

 to follow birds, which, in their fright, have dashed 

 through windows in houses. They live upon any of the 

 smaller birds, as well as rodents, grasshoppers and 

 other insects. 



Nest. Usually a slight platform of twigs in trees, 

 deep in the woods, less often in cavities in trees, and 

 sometimes on ledges; eggs buffy, heavily blotched with 

 chestnut. (1.50x1.20). 



Range. Breeds chiefly north of the United States, 

 but occasionally on the northern border; winters in 

 northern United States. 



