HAWKS, EAOLKS, ETC. p..;' 



FAMILY FALCONIDAC. FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 



The three hundred and fifty species included in this family are 

 distribute! throughout tin- world. One tenth of the number are found 

 in North America. During the migratory seasons they may some- 

 times be Men traveling in scattered ll<>< k-. which tnuy take hours to 

 pass a given p<>mt. At other times of the year, with few exception?., 

 they are solitary birds, having no intercourse with their kind. During 

 the breeding season many species have .1. -finitely Unnidcd haunts, upon 

 which intrusion by individuals of the same s|>ecies is not permitted. 

 With much regularity they return to the same locality an<l i-v.-n tin- 

 same nest year after year, and some species are known to mate for life. 

 Their days are an unceasing vigil. At all times they an- on the alert 

 for food. This consists to a large extent of small mammals and in- 

 sects, birds and poultry forming a comparatively insignificant part f 

 the diet of most species. Hawks are thus of great value to the agri- 

 culturist as the natural check upon the increase of the myriad- < >f 

 small rodents so destructive to crops. 



The cries of Hawks are generally loud, startling, and characteristic 

 of their fierce natures. They strike their prey with their feet, and use 

 the bill to tear it into fragments. 



Hawks' nests are generally bulky affairs, composed of coarse twigs 

 and sticks. The presence of downy feathers gives evidence that they 

 are or have been recently occupied. 



KIT TO THE SPECIES. 



I. Wing over 19-00. 



!>per half of tarsus feathered. 



o. Whole head and neck white 852. BALD EAOLK (Ad.). 



b. Head and neck brown or brownish. 

 &>. Bill nuwtly yellow (Greenland) . . 351. GRAY SKA EAOLK (Ad.). 



A. Bill black or blackish 852. BALD EAOLK (1m.). 



B. Whole tarsus feathered 849. GOLDKM EAOLK. 



II. \Vmjjun.lLTl9-00. 



1. Feathers of under parts more or less streaked and 



spotted, without crossbars. 

 .1 Outer primary with numerous black or blackish bare. 

 a. Wing uiuli-r 10-00. 

 a 1 . Back bright rufous, with or without black bare. 



860. AM. SPARROW HAWK. 



o. Back bluish slate-color 3. r >7. I'I.K..N- HAWK (Ad.). 



a*. Back fuacoua, second primary longest. 



857. PIOKON HAWK (Im.). 

 a*. Back fuscous, fourth primary longest, tail-feather* of nearly equal 



length ; wing under 9'00 888. SHARJ>-IUNNKI> HAWK. 



14 



