io8 RAPTORES : Birds of Prey 



DESERT SPARROW HAWK 



(360a. Falco sparverius phalaena) 10-13 in. 



Male: Rufous above, usually with crescentic black bars on 

 back; a black bar across end of tail; wings gray-blue except 

 outer quills; forehead and nape gray-blue; buffy below, round 

 black spots on lower breast; two vertical black bars on sides of 

 head. 



Female: Finely black-barred above, including wings and tail; 

 streaked light brown below. 



APLOMADO FALCON See Appendix. 



(359. Falco fusco-caerulescens) 17 in. 

 AUDUBON CARACARA 



(362. Polyborus cheriway) 22 in. 



A hawk-like bird, with wings and body mostly blackish, neck 

 mostly white; crown black, feathers of hinder part lengthened 

 into a crest; chest and fore-back finely barred black and buffy; 

 under tail-coverts and base of tail white; spread wings show 

 white area. 



More Vulture than Hawk in structure and habit. Feeds 

 chiefly on carrion; also on small birds and mammals, and on 

 reptiles. Said to be very fond of snakes. 



FAMILY OSPREYS 



Generally known as Fish Hawks or Fish Eagles. Large birds 

 of Hawk-like form, but more heavily hooked bill and very large 

 feet, specialized for catching and holding the fish upon which 

 they feed. 



OSPREY 



(364. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis) 21-25 in. 



Dusky brown above; white below, breast often dusky-spotted 

 or lined; head mostly white, with broad, blackish stripe from 

 eye across ear-coverts. 



Females have more extensive breast-spotting. 



This is perhaps the most spectacular of all our birds by reason 

 of its fish-catching habit and the enormous nests it builds in tall 

 tree-tops, or even on the ground. 



