144 SPARROW HA WK 



in the air. One of its notes resembles quite closely 

 that of the Wood Pewee." (Fisher.) 



The Broad-winged nests late for a Hawk, generally 

 about the middle of May. The nest is like that of the 

 Crow, but larger, and two or three eggs are laid. 

 The male is said to assist in incubating the eggs as 

 well as in bringing up the young. 



Sparrow Hawk: Falco sparverius. 



Length 10 inches. 



Male, upper parts bright reddish-brown generally barred 

 with black, the tail bordered with a broad black band and 

 tipped with white; forehead gray, irregular black stripes 

 on the side of the head; wings grayish-blue with black 

 markings. Under parts generally buffy or pale reddish- 

 brown, with or without black markings. 



Female, under parts streaked with brown. The wings are 

 brown barred with dusky, and the tail is narrowly barred with 

 dusky. 



Common in winter, rare in summer. 



The handsome Sparrow Hawk is the smallest of his 

 family, being about the size of a Robin. His hooked 

 bill and high shoulders proclaim him a Hawk, and the 

 gray forehead and distinct black markings on the side 

 of the head identify him. He is supposed to eat small 

 birds, hence his name, but rarely have any been found 

 in the great number of stomachs examined at the 

 Biological Survey, except in winter, and then only 

 when other food could not be obtained. He is a great 

 destroyer of meadow-mice and injurious insects, 

 especially grasshoppers and crickets, so he should be 

 protected. 



The nest, unlike that of other Hawks, is in a hole 

 in a tree, either in a natural cavity or an old Wood- 

 pecker's hole. 



