ACCI PITER. 227 



f 



GENUS ACCIPITER BRISSON. (Page 223, pi. LXYL, figs. 1-3.) 



Species. 



COMMON CHARACTERS. Adults uniform bluish gray above, the top of the head 

 darker, feathers of occiput pure white beneath surface; tail crossed by several bands 

 of blackish and narrowly tipped with white ; lower parts white, the breast, sides, 

 and flanks barred with grayish, dusky, or rufous. Young : Dusky brown above, 

 more or less spotted with lighter, the feathers bordered with rusty ; tail grayish 

 brown, banded with blackish, and narrowly tipped with white ; lower parts white 

 or buffy, striped with brown or dusky. 



a 1 . Bare portion of tarsus in front longer than middle toe ; wing less than 12.00. 

 (Subgenus Accipiter.) 



b 1 . Tail even or slightly emarginate ; wing not more than 8.80 ; top of head in 

 adult not conspicuously different in color from back. Adult male : Above 

 bluish gray, the top of the head darker but not inclining to black ; sides 

 of head light rusty, streaked with darker; breast, sides, etc., mixed 

 vinaceous-rufous and white, in transverse spots and bars, the first with- 

 out ashy tinge laterally; length 10.00-11.50, wing 6.10-7.10, tail 5.80-6.10, 

 tarsus 1.90-2.05. Adult female : Similar in color to the male, but upper 

 parts less bluish, white of lower parts less pure and rufous spotting of a 

 less vinaceous tint; length 12.50-14.00, wing 7.80-8.80, tail 6.60-8.20, 

 tarsus 2.00-2.25. Young: Dusky brown above, the feathers bordered 

 with rusty and more or less mixed with white spotting (mostly con- 

 cealed); lower parts white, often tinged with buff, striped with clear 

 brown or dusky, the sides, flanks, and thighs transversely spotted with 

 same. Nest very variable in situation and character, but usually in 

 trees often in hollows among rocks or in trees. Eggs 2-5, 1.47 X 1-16, 

 white, greenish white, or bluish white, usually very heavily blotched 

 with brown. Hob. Whole of North America; south, in winter, to 

 Guatemala 332. A. velox (WiLs.). Sharp-shinned Hawk. 



b 3 . Tail decidedly rounded ; wing not less than 8.85 ; top of head in adult black, 

 in marked contrast with bluish gray of back. Adult male : Similar in 

 plumage to corresponding stage of A. velox, but top of head blackish, 

 sides of head more or less washed with bluish gray, and sides of breast 

 tinged with the same ; length 14.00-17.00, wing 8.85-9.40, tail 7.80-8.30, 

 tarsus 2.30-2.60. Adult female : Colors duller than in male, the upper 

 parts less bluish, the hind-neck and sides of head washed with dull 

 rusty, top of head duller, more brownish, black, and sides of breast 

 without ashy tinge; length 18.00-20.00, wing 10.10-11.00, tail 9.00-10.50, 

 tarsus 2.60-2.85. Young: Similar to corresponding stage of A. velox, 

 but rather less broadly striped beneath, with much less of transverse 

 spotting on flanks, etc. Downy young : Uniform white. Nest usually in 

 high trees (often a deserted crow's nest). Eggs 1.93 X 1-50, usually plain 



