FALCONIIXSS DIURNAL RAPTORES. 435 



Falco columbarius (Linn.) 



PIGEON HAWK. 



Popular synonyms. American Merlin; Little Corporal (AUDUBON). 

 Falco columbarius LINN. S. N. ed. 10. i, 1758, 90; ed. 12, i. 1766, 128. WILS. Am. Orn. 11,1810. 

 107.pl. 15. fig. 3. AUD. Orn. Biog. i, 1831.466; B. Am. i. 1839,88. pL 21; Synop. 1839, 16. 

 NUTT. Man. 1. 1832, 60. CASS. in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858. 9. (s. g. Hypotriorchis). 

 CouES.Key, 1872, 214; Check List, 1874, No. 344; 2d ed. 1882,No.505; B. N. W. 1874. 345. 

 ffypotriorchis columbarius GEAT, 1844. BAIBD. Cat. N. Am. B. 1869, No. 7. 

 jEsalon columbarius KAUP, Contr. Orn. 1850. 54. RIDGW. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881. No. 417. 

 Falco (jfisalon) lithofalco var. columbarius B. B. & K. Hist N. Am. B. iii. 1874. 143, 144. 

 Falco temerarius Am>. Orn. Biog. 1,1831, 381; B. Am. pis. 75,92. 



HAS. Whole of North America, migrating in winter over whole of Middle America 

 and northern South America (as far as Ecuador and Venezuela), and throughout West 

 Indies. 



SP. CHAR. Adult male. Above cinereous, varying in shade, but generally of a slaty 

 bluish cast; each feather with a distinct shaft- streak of black, these lines most conspicu- 

 ous on the head above. Tail with a very broad subterminal band of black, about one 

 inch in width ; there are indications of three other bands, their continuity and distinct- 

 ness varying with the individual, but generally quite conspicuous, and each about half 

 the width of the subterminal one ; the latter is succeeded by a terminal one of white, 

 about three sixteenths of an inch in width, sometimes broader; on the lateral feathers 

 the black bands are always conspicuous, being in the form of transverse oblong spots, 

 crossing the shaft, but less extended on the outer web, which is often immaculate ex- 

 cept at the end, the broad terminal band always extending to the edge of the feather. 

 Primaries dusky black, margined terminally more or less distinctly with whitish (some- 

 times fading on the edge only); on the inner web is a series of about eight transverse 

 oval spots of white, and generally corresponding to these are indications of bluish ashy 

 spots on the outer web. Beneath white, this purest on the throat, which is immaculate; 

 there is generally a more or less strong tinge of fulvous beneath, this always prevalent 

 on the tibiae, and on a distinct collar extending round the nape, interrupting the blue 

 above; the tibiae frequently incline to ochraceous rufous. Lateral portions of the head 

 with fine streaks of dusky, these thickest on the upper edge of the ear-coverts, leaving 

 a distinct whitish superciliary streak, those of opposite sides meeting on the forehead. 

 Breast, upper part of the abdomen, sides, and flanks, with longitudinal stripes of umber, 

 each with a shaft-streak of black; on the flanks their shape is modified, here taking the 

 form of spots running in chain-like series; tibiae with narrower and darker streaks; 

 lower tail- co verts with narrow central streaks like those on the tibias. Frequently there 

 is a strong bluish shade on flanks and lower tail-coverts, sometimes replacing the brown 

 of the spots on the former, and clouding in a similar form the latter. Length about, 11.00; 

 extent, 23.75 ; wing, 7.20-7.90 ; tail, 4.90-5.50 ; culmen. .48-.50 ; tarsus, 1.30-1.40 ; middle toe, 1.15-1.25. 



Adult female. Pattern of coloration as in the male, but the colors different The 

 blue above replaced by dark umber-brown with a plumbeous cast, and showing more or 

 less distinct darker shaft-lines; those on the head above very broad, giving a streaked 

 appearance; white spots on inner webs of primaries more ochraceous than in the male. 

 Tail dark plumbeous brown, shading into blackish toward end, with five rather narrow 

 ochraceous or soiled white bars, the first of which is concealed by the upper coverts, 

 the last terminal. White beneath less tinged with reddish than in the male, the tibiae 

 not different from the other portions; markings beneath as in the male. Total length, 

 about 12.50-13.25; extent, 20.50-22.00; wing, 8.00-8.55; tail, 5.50-6.00; culmen. .55-.60; tarsus. 

 1.55-1.60; middle toe, 1.35. 



Young. Above plumbeous brown, tinged with fulvous on head, and more or less 

 washed with the same on the rump; frequently the feathers of the back, rump, scapu- 



