PIGEON HAWK 

 357. Falco columbarius. 12 in. 



Adult male, bluish slate above, with black shaft lines 

 to the feathers; below buffy on the breast, sides and 

 thighs; streaked on the breast and barred on the flanks 

 with black; tail with four black bands. Female and 

 young, blackish brown above; below streaked with 

 dusky. These little falcons are very bold and coura- 

 geous when led by the pangs of hunger, chasing their 

 prey close to human beings, and they have been known I 

 to follow birds, which, in their fright, have dashed | 

 through windows in houses. They live upon any of the 

 smaller birds, as well as rodents, grasshoppers and 

 other insects. 



Nest. Usually a slight platform of. twigs in trees, 

 deep in the woods, less often in cavities in trees, anc 

 sometimes on ledges; eggs buffy, heavily blotched witl 

 chestnut. (1.50x1.20). 



Range. Breeds chiefly north of the United States, | 

 but occasionally on the northern border; winters in ' 

 northern United States. 



