COMMON BRITISH BIRDS 27 



JAY. (R. Crows.) 



Size.- Pigeon. 



Colour. Pinkish-brown, whitish crest with black 

 streaks, black streak under eye, rump white, tail black, 

 wing blackish- brown, with patch of chequered blue and 

 black and a little white. 



Note. Harsh scream or chatter. 



Distinguishing Feature. Harsh scream, pinkish- 

 brown colour, with the white rump and black tail. 



Nest. Placed in trees, built of sticks, lined grass, &c. 



Eggs. Greenish, thickly spotted with fine greenish- 

 brown, sometimes almost uniform. 



Haunts. Woods. 



KESTREL. (R. Falcons.) 



Size. Pigeon. 



Colour. Male : head bluish-grey, back pale chestnut 

 with a few black spots, lower back and tail bluish- 

 grey, tail tipped black then white, under parts reddish- 

 white with black spots. Female : above reddish-brown 

 with black bars, tail the same with whitish tips, under 

 parts much the same as in the male bird. 



Note. A cry somewhat like the plaintive call of a 

 cat. 



Distinguishing Feature.' The Kestrel is most easily 

 recognized when ' hovering,' which is its usual method 

 of hunting for its prey. Facing the wind, at a height 

 of from 50 to 200 feet with outspread wings and tail, 

 the Kestrel may be seen, motionless, excepting for 

 the slight quivering of the wings as it searches the 

 ground below for some small creature on which to 

 pounce, such as a mouse, mole, frog, &c. If nothing is 

 seen', the graceful little falcon moves away to another 

 spot, where it again remains ' hung aloft the sky.' 

 When a movement below is seen, the bird often drops 

 a few feet and hovers again, before making a final 

 swoop to clutch its victim and bear it away. The 

 reddish back of the Kestrel distinguishes it from the 

 slate-grey Sparrow hawk, which does not hover. 



Nest. Usually an old nest of a Crow or other bird. 



Eggs. Mottled all over with fine reddish-brown 

 spots and darker blotches. 



Haunts. Wooded and open districts. 



AGRICULTURAL LIBRARY 



UNrVt.KSITY OF CALIFORNIA 



CITRUS RESEARCH CENTER AND 

 AGRICULTURAL EXPERTS STATION 



