170 



FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 



Subgenus Rhynchofalco. 



Tarsus scarcely feathered above, little longer than middle toe without 

 claw. 



359. Falco fusco-ccerulescens Vieill. APLOMADO FALCON. 

 Adults. Sides of head black, with white central blotch ; throat and 



chest white ; sides and flanks slaty blackish, narrowly barred with white ; 

 upper parts plain bluish gray ; wide stripe from eye becoming yellowish 

 brown in encircling back of head ; wing more than 9 inches, with one white 

 bar ; tail tipped with white and crossed by about eight narrow white 

 bands. Young : similar to adult but colors duller, the upper parts less 

 bluish, white of breast buffy, more or less marked with dusky, belly and 

 thighs paler. Male : length 15, wing 9.20-10.70, tail 6.30-8.00, bill .60- 

 .68. Female : length 17-18, wing 11.00-11.60, tail 7.80-8.80, bill .71-.80. 



Distribution. From southern Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, south 

 to Patagonia. 



Nest. A platform of twigs and plant stalks, generally lined with grass ; 

 placed in mesquite, yucca, or cactus. Eggs : usually 3, yellowish white, 

 almost obscured by varying shades of brown. 



Food. Probably largely small mammals, birds, and insects. 



The Aplomado falcon is a bird of the mesquite, cactus, and yucca 

 plains, where it finds a goodly supply of its favorite foods. When 

 hunting it often hovers in the air like a sparrow hawk, but unlike 

 most hawks rests mainly on the ground. For a falcon it is said to 

 be rather a quiet, spiritless bird. 



Subgenus Tinnunculus. 

 Tarsus scarcely feathered above, longer than middle toe with claw. 



360. Palco sparverius Linn. SPARROW HAWK. 



Adult male. Top of head bluish or 

 slaty, with or without rufous crown 

 patch ; cheeks with two black stripes ; 

 back rufous, with or without black 

 bars or spots ; wings bluish gray ; tail 

 rufous, with black subterminal band ; 

 under parts varying from white to 

 rufous, with or without black spots. 

 Adult female : similar, but back, 

 wings, and tail barred with dusky. 

 Young: similar to adults, but colors 

 more blended and in male feath- 

 ers of upper parts edged with whitish. 

 Male: length 8.75-10.60, wing 7.16, 

 tail 4.73, bill .50. Female: length 

 9.50-12.00, wing 7.57, tail 5.14, bill 

 .50-.55. 



Distribution. North America from 

 Great Slave Lake south, east of the 

 Rocky Mountains, to northern South 

 America. 



Nest. In holes, usually in dead 

 Fig. 237. trees. Eggs : 2 to 5, varying from 



From Biological Survey, U. b. I>t-pt. ot 

 Agriculture. 



