NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



169 



356. Duck Hawk. Falco peregrinus anatum. 



Range. Whole of North America, breed- 

 ing locally, chiefly in mountainous re- 

 gions, throughout its range. 



This beautiful species, characterized by 

 its black moustache, is the most graceful, 

 fearless, and swiftest of the Falcons, strik- 

 ing down birds of several times its own 

 weight, such as some of the larger Ducks. 

 It breeds quite abundantly on the Pacific 

 coast and in certain localities in the Da- 

 kotas, laying its eggs on the rocky ledges. 

 Their eggs are similar to those of the 

 Prairie Falcon, but are darker and bright- 

 er, in fact they are trie darkest, brightest 

 marked, and most beautiful of Falcon 

 eggs; size 2.05 x 1.55. Data. Stark Co., 



N.tD., May 4, 1901. Eggs laid on the gravel on ledge of high rocky 

 Collector, Edw. Dodd. 



[Buff or reddish buff J 



butte. 



356a. Peale Falcon. Falco peregrinus pealei. 



[ Range. Pacific coast from northern United States north to Alaska. 



A darker form of the preceding, such as occurs in this section with a great 

 many other birds. The nesting habits and the eggs are precisely like those of 

 the Duck Hawk. 



357. Pigeon Hawk. Falco colum barius. 



Range. North America, breeding chiefly north 

 of the United States except in some of the higher 

 ranges along our northern border. A small Falcon. 

 about 11 inches long, often confused with the 

 Sharp-shinned Hawk, but much darker and a more 

 stoutly built bird. It is a daring species, often 

 attacking birds larger than itself; it also feeds on 

 mice, grasshoppers, squirrels, etc. They generally 

 build a slight nest of sticks in trees, deep in the 

 woods; less often in natural cavities of dead trees; 

 and sometimes on rocky ledges. The eggs have a 

 brownish buff ground color, heavily blotched with 

 [Brownish buff] brown and chestnut. Size 1.50 x 1.22. Data. So. 



Labrador, May 29, 1899. Nest a platform of sticks, twigs and moss in a pine tree. 



3 feet up. Five eggs, Collector, E. H. Montgomery. 



357a. Black Merlin. Falco columbarius sucMeyi. 



Range. Pacific coast from northern United States north to Alaska. 



Very similar in appearance to the preceding, but much darker, both above and 

 below. Its nesting habits and eggs will not differ in any manner from those of 

 the Pigeon Hawk. 



