ACCIPITRES — FALCONIDjE — FALCO. 15 



THE PIGEON HAWK. 



Falco coltjmbarius. 



PLATE IV. FIG. 9 (Mali). 



(STATE COLLECTION. Male & Female.) 



Falco cohimbarhis, Lin. 12 ed. p. 128. 



Pigeon Hawk. Wils. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 107, pi. 15. fig. 3 (male). 



littU Corporal Hawk. Aoduboh, folio, pi. 92 (young); pi. 75 (young). Nuttall, Manual, Vol. 1, p, 80. 



Pigeon Hawk. Aud. Om. Biog. VoL 1, p. 466 and 381 ; Vol. 5, p. 368. Id. B. of A. Vol. 1, p. 88, pi. 21 (male 



and female). 

 Falco columbarius. Gikaud, Birds of Long Island, p. 17. 



Characteristics. Dusky ; beneath whitish, with interrupted stripes. Tail with 4-6 nar- 

 now bands. Under side of wings varied with black and rust-color. 

 Length, 11 inches. 



Description. Bill curved and notched as in preceding species. Wings, when folded, 

 reaching to within an inch of the tail, which is slightly rounded. Third primary longest. 

 Thigh-feathers long. Tarsus reticulated. 



Color. Whole upper parts dusky, except the tail, which is of a darker hue, and barred 

 with white and slaty bluish white. Chin and throat white. Sides of the head, breast, thigh- 

 feathers and under tail-coverts reddish brown, with dark drop-shaped streaks. Irregular 

 brown or whitish bars on the under side of the primaries. Bill bluish at the base, darker at 

 the tip ; cere greenish ; legs yellow. Young : Head reddish brown streaked with dusky. 

 Female, darker, with some white on the hind part of the head. 



Length, 10-0-12-0. Alar extent, 22-0-25-0. 



This species has been termed the Bullet Hawk, in allusion to its swiftness. It occurs 

 over the Union, and has also been seen in Texas. It is, however, a northern bird, ranging 

 to the 65th degree. It is not uncommon in this State, several having been brought to me in 

 a season. It does not, however, as far as I have ascertained, breed here. It is usually ob- 

 served most numerous in the autumn, when birds are preparing for their annual emigrations. 

 Peculiar to America. 



