SPARROW HAWK 



360. Falco sparverius. 10.5 in. 



This is the smallest and one of the handsomest of our 

 hawks. Cannot be mistaken for any other species, be- 

 cause of its bright colors and odd marking. The female 

 is barred on the back, wings and tail, while the male 

 has but a few short bars on the back. The general tone 

 of both, above, is a bright rusty-brown. This is the 

 most abundant hawk that we have, and it is also best 

 known, chiefly because it is found commonly in the vicin- 

 ity of farmhouses and commonly on the outskirts of 

 cities. Their flight is peculiar, a few rapid wing beats, 

 then a short sail, alternately. They are very noisy in 

 mating season and when the young birds first fly, their 

 notes being a -apidly repeated, " killy-killy-killy." Their 

 food is of grasshoppers, mice and rarely small birds. 



Nest. Usually in cavities in trees, often in deserted 

 Flicker holes, the eggs being laid upon the bare wood. 

 They are cream colored, finely sprinkled and spotted 

 with brown. (1.35x1.10). 



Range. Breeds from the Gulf States to Labrador and 

 Hudson Bav. Winters in southern United States. 



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