76 



BRITISH BIRDS 



(1) Family: Buteonidce. (c) Subfamily: Accipitrince 

 Sparrow-hawks 



153. Sparrow-hawk [Accipiter nisus nisus (Linnseus)]. 



Stationary in woodland districts. Scarce in N. Scotland. 



Winter visitor on the E. coast. 



Bird. Length 13-15J in., the female being the larger. 

 Wing comparatively short (8 in.). Legs long. 

 Bill hooked. The male has the upper-parts 

 slate-grey, the tail brownish with dusky bars. 

 Under-parts mostly whitish or pale buff closely 

 barred with dark brown and rufous, or rufous 

 only, and on the forebreast and flank tipped 

 with rufous. A chestnut tinge on the lower 

 sides of the head. The female has the upper- 

 parts browner. The lower sides of the head are 

 paler than in the case of the male, and streaked 

 brown. The under-parts whitish, mostly barred 

 with umber-brown. The young are like the 



Fig. 89. 



female, but margined rufous on the upper-parts. 



Nest. Usually built of twigs, bark, and some softer 

 material on top of an old nest of crow, wood-pigeon, or magpie. 



Eggs. Usually 4-6. Usually bluish-white, sometimes 

 blotched with rich chocolate-brown, sometimes with paler 

 reddish-brown or purplish. Av. size, 1 '52x1*26 in. Laying 

 begins April-May. One brood. 



(2) Family : Falconidce 



154. Peregrine-falcon [Fako pergrinus peregrinus Tunstall]. 

 Resident. Chiefly frequents hilly districts and 

 sea cliffs. 



Bird. Length 15-18 in., the female being 

 the larger. Wings comparatively long (14 in.) 

 and pointed. Legs short. Cheeks blackish. 

 Beak hooked. Upper-parts slate-blue, spotted 

 and barred with black. Tail barred dusky, 

 tipped white. Under-parts bufnsh or rufous- 

 white, more or less closely barred with black. 

 Legs and feet yellow, unfeathered, and reticu- 

 lated. Young birds have the upper-parts dusky 

 brown, margined buff or rufous, and the 

 under-parts striped longitudinally black, not 

 barred. 



Nest. Usually on the ledge of a cliff face. Sometimes on 

 the ground. A scrape, unlined. 



Fig. 90. 



