NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



171 



360. Sparrow Hawk. Falco sparverius. 

 Range. North America, east of the Rocky Mountains and north to Hudson 



Bay; winters from the middle portions of the United States, southward. 



__ This beautiful little Falcon is the smallest of the 



^^tfflMM^^ American Hawks, being only 10 inches in length. 



They are very abundant in the east, nesting anywhere 

 in cavities in trees, either in woods or open fields. 

 The eggs are generally deposited upon the bottom of 

 the cavity with no lining; they are creamy or yellow- 

 ish buff in color, sprinkled, spottecfor blotched, in 

 endless variety, with reddish brown. Size 1.85 x 1.10. 

 They are very noisy, especially when the young are 

 learning to fly, uttering a loud, tinkling, "killy, 

 killy, killy." They have a very amiable disposition, 

 and frequently nest harmoniously in the same tree 

 with other birds, such as Flickers and Robins. 



[Buffy.] 



360a. Desert Sparrow Hawk. Falco sparverius phalcena. 



Range Western United States from British Columbia south to Mexico. 



This variety is slightly larger and paler than the eastern form. There are no 

 differences in the nidification of the two varieties. 



360b. St. Lucas Sparrow Hawk. Falco sparverius peninsularis. 



Range. Lower California. 



This variety is smaller than the eastern, and even paler than the western 

 form. Eggs identical with eastern specimens. 



[361.] Cuban Sparrow Hawk. Falco dominicensis. 



A darker colored West Indian form, whose habits and nesting do not vary 

 from those of the common Sparrow Hawk; casually taken in Florida. 



362. Audubon Caracara. Polyborus cheriway. 



Range Southern border of the United States south to South America. 



A strikingly marked blackish 

 and whitish species, much barred 

 on the fore back and the breast, 

 with the head and throat largely 

 white, except for a black and 

 somewhat crested crown. They 

 are numerous in southern Texas 

 and also in the interior of south- 

 ern Florida, where they are res- 

 ident. They build bulky, but 

 shabby nests of sticks, weeds and 

 grass, piled into a promiscuous 

 heap, generally located in bushes 

 or low trees. Their two or three 

 euus have a ground color vary ing 

 from buff to bright cinnamon, 

 and are dotted and blotched with 

 all shades of brown and umber. 

 On the whole, these eggs show a 

 greater diversity of markings 

 and ground color, than those of 



[Cinnamon. 1 



any other species. 

 1.80. 



Size 2.50 x 



