THE PIGEON HAWK. 



Falco richardsonii, occur in some of these mountains as well, and are very 

 liable to be mistaken for the true Pigeon Hawk, even by fairly well posted 

 ornithologists, and almost certainly by the average collector. Unless the 

 parent is secured with the eggs the latter cannot be identified with any cer- 

 tainty. Its range northward is quite extended, reaching north of latitude 

 68 in the interior of British North America to Norton Sound and to the 

 shores of Bering Sea, in Alaska. 



In the eastern United States the Pigeon Hawk has been occasionally 

 observed during the breeding season in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, 

 and the northern parts of New York and Pennsylvania. It has likewise been 

 noticed at this time in Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and doubt- 

 less breeds here also, as well as in the mountainous portions of some of the 

 Southern States. 



Mr. William Brewster records the finding of a nest and four eggs on 

 Amherst Island, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, on June 9, 1882, by Mr. Frazar, 

 who while passing a spruce-clad knoll, surrounded by a boggy swamp, noticed 

 a pair of Pigeon Hawks circling above the trees, and approaching quickly, 

 discovered the nest built in a dense spruce at the intersection of a horizontal 

 branch with the main stem, and at a height of about 10 feet. As he climbed 

 the tree the Hawks, now thoroughly alarmed for the safety of their home, 

 dashed wildly about his head, frequently passing within a few feet and utter- 

 ing shrill screams of anger and dismay. After taking the eggs he made a 

 close examination of the nest, which was found to be very bulky, in fact 

 "as large as a Crow's," and composed chiefly of bark, with some coarse 

 sticks surrounding the exterior, and a neat soft lining of finer bark and horse 

 hair. From its general appearance he felt convinced that it was constructed 

 by the Hawks themselves. This was June 9; returning five days later he 

 found both birds flying about the knoll, and their actions indicated that they 

 had built another nest somewhere near, but it could not be found. As he was 

 then on the point of leaving the island he shot the male, a fine adult specimen, 

 which accompanies the eggs. 1 



Mr. Lynds Jones writes me that he found a nest of this species near 

 Grinnell, Iowa, on April 28, containing four eggs. They were placed in a 

 hole in an American linden tree about 8 feet from the ground. The nest was 

 made of dry grasses, fibrous bark, and a few feathers. The birds hovered 

 near when the nest was disturbed, but did not offer any resistance. Mr. J. 

 W. Preston, of Baxter, Iowa, informs me that a pair of these birds remained 

 one season near Iowa City under circumstances which led him to believe they 

 were nesting. Mr. Charles D. Gibson states that the Pigeon Hawk is a res- 

 ident of the Maryland and Delaware Peninsula, and that it breeds in both 

 localities. I have tried to verify this record, but was unsuccessful. 2 



Mr. Audubon found three nests of this bird in Labrador, each containing 

 five eggs. These nests were placed on the top branches of the low firs so 



'Hulletin Nuttall Ornithological Club, Vol. vu, 1S2, No. 4, p. 25f>. 

 "Ornithologist and Oologist, Vol. viu, September, 18tKi, No. 9, page 72. 



