214 



SPARROW HAWK. 



Falco sparverius. 



DESCRIPTION. 



"Small, wings narrow and pointed; top of head bluish-gray 

 or dark slate, the crown with or without a rufous patch. 



Male. —Tail chestnut rufous, crossed by a broad black band 

 near end; wings grayish-blue, more or less spotted with black. 

 Above: Rufous, with or without black bars or spots. Below: 

 Varying- from white to deep rufous, with or without black 

 spots. 



Female. -Tail, wings and back crossed by numerous narrow 

 bands of dusky." (Fisher.) 



Length, 10 to 12 inches; extent of wings 18 to 23 inches; tail 

 4^- *:o rii^> inches. Iris brown; leg's and feet yellow. 



.Ha&t<a^— Whole of North .America, south to northern South 

 America. Common and breeds generally throughout Pennsyl- 

 vania. 



The Sparrow Hawk is the smallest and most beau- 

 tiful of the American hawks. During- migrations in 

 the spring and autumn and throughout the summer 

 months the Spaiiow Hawk is common in nearly all 

 sections of this State, except ]»(n-haps in the heavily 

 wooded mountainous districts where, according to my 

 experience, the species is rather rare. Tn southern 

 Pennsylvania, especially in Che.ster, Delaware. Lancas 

 ter and York counties, this bird is of frequent occur- 

 rence as a winter resident, but in the central and 

 northern counties of oui" State it is regarded as a 

 I'ather unusual winter sojourner. 



.M:sT, FAiGS AND YOUNG. 



In southeastern Pennsylvania where this species was 

 in former years a very common summer resident they 

 begin nesting in April. The eggs, usually five in num- 

 ber, are deposited in hollow trees, generally the de- 

 serted hole of ;i woodpecker. Tlie eggs measiii-e about 



