165 



COOPER'S HAWK. 

 Accipiter cooperi. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Adult.— Above uniform bluish-gray, and top of head black- 

 isli; tail has several transverse blackish bands; lower parts 

 white; breast and sides being- barred with dusky or reddish- 

 brown. Iris reddish amber. 



ImmaUire. —Above dusky, more or less spotted with white 

 ana reddish brown; tail banded; lower parts whitish with 

 long brown spots. Iris yellow. A large female measures 

 from 18 to 20 inches in length by o6 in extent; the long and 

 rounded tail measures about 8V-> inches; the male is smaller. 



Habitat. — North America in general. Common in I'ennsyl- 

 vania, particularly in wooded and mountainous districts. 



This miK'li (leslested and commonly called ''Lonp^- 

 tailed Chicken or Pheasant Hawk" — a native — is resi- 

 dent but it is not nearly so plentiful during the winter 

 season as throuoliont the late spring, summer and 

 early autumn. 



THE NEST AND EGGS. 



Nest building is commonly begun in this locality 

 about the middle of April, and lasts for a period of 

 from three to five days. Occasionally this bird will 

 deposit its eggs in a deserted crow's nest. I believe 

 they prefer to erect their own nests, and, from my ob- 

 servation, am quite j)Ositive they only appropriate the 

 nests of other birds wlu'n their own have been de- 

 stroyed. The building of the nest is the conjoint l-.'.bor 

 of both birds. 



It is usually built in a thick woods, and when a pair 

 of Cooper's Hawks begin housekeeping in woodland 

 near the farmer's poultry yard and they are not soon 

 hunlcd lip and l<ilh'(l or (heir nt'St and its conlent--^ de- 

 stroved, tlie chances are tliey will dcslrov a good maiiv 



