46 OUR MIGRANT BIRDS 



Observation. In general appearance like a Lesser 

 Peregrine Falcon. 



Plumage. Upper parts bluish black ; cheeks and 

 moustache black. Wings long ; under parts buffish 

 white, longitudinally streaked with black. Thighs rusty 

 red. Bill horn-colour, darker at the tip. Legs, cere, 

 and orbits yellow. Length 12 in. Female duller, 

 length 14 in. Young, plumage tinged with rufous. 

 Nestlings covered with white down. 



Language. A shrill cry, somewhat like the Kestrel's. 



Habits. Much resembles the Peregrine Falcon. The 

 long pointed wings, exceeding the tail when closed, are 

 always noticeable in flight. Flight very rapid. 



Food. Various kinds of insects chiefly ; also small 

 birds like Larks. 



Nest. May or June. One brood. 



Site. Some old Crow's or Magpie's nest is appro- 

 priated. 



Eggs. Three or four. Pale ochreous, speckled and 

 dusted with dark red. Very like Kestrel's. 



CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus rufus). 



April to September. Fairly commonly distributed, 

 being most abundant in the south and south-western 

 counties. Rare in Scotland and Ireland. 



Haunts. Woods and well-timbered districts. 



Plumage. Pale yellow superciliary streak over eye. 

 Lores olive ; upper parts olive-green. Breast and flanks 

 greyish white, suffused with yellow. Wings and tail 

 brown, edged with olive-green ; under wing-coverts 

 yellow ; under parts white, slightly washed with yellow- 

 ish. Thighs yellow. Bill brown. Legs dark brown. 



