BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 139 



the depredator. They occasionally feed on dead fish that have floated 

 to the shores or sand-bars." Audubon. 



I have examined but three of these hawks ; the stomachs of two were 

 destitute of food materials, the other contained a few feathers of a do- 

 mestic pigeon. 



Falco columbarius LINN. 



Pigeon Hawk. 



DESCRIPTION (Plate 85). 



Adult Male. Entire upper parts bluish-slate color, every feather with a black 

 longitudinal line ; forehead and throat white ; other under parts pale yellowish or 

 reddish-white ; every feather with a longitudinal line of brownish-black ; tibiae light 

 ferruginous, with lines of black ; quills black, tipped with ashy-white ; tail light 

 bluish-ashy, tipped with a white and with a wide subterminal band of black, and 

 with several other transverse narrower bands of black ; inner webs nearly white ; 

 cere and legs yellow ; bill blue ; iris brown. 



Younger. Entire upper plumage dusky-brown, quite light in some specimens, 

 and with a tinge of ashy ; head above, with narrow stripes of dark brown and fer- 

 ruginous, and in some specimens many irregular spots and edgings of the latter 

 color on the other upper parts ; forehead and entire under parts dull-white, the latter 

 with longitudinal stripes of light-brown ; sides and flanks light-brown, with pairs 

 of circular spots of white ; tibiae dull white, with dashes of brown ; tail pale brown, 

 with about six transverse bands of white ; cere and legs greenish-yellow. 



Young. Upper plumage brownish-black, white of the forehead and under parts 

 more deeply tinged with reddish yellow ; dark stripes wider than in preceding ; 

 sides and flanks with wide transverse bands of brownish-black, and with circular 

 spots of yellowish-white ; quills black ; tail brownish-black, tipped with white, and 

 with about four bands of white ; cere and feet greenish yellow. 



Total length, female 12 to 14 inches ; wing 8 to 9 inches ; tail 5 to 5| inches. Male, 

 total length, 10 to 11 inches ; wing 7* to 8 inches ; tail 5 inches. Baird j s B. B. N. A. 



Habitat. The whole of North America, south to the West Indies and northern 

 South America. 



This little falcon, a native of northern latitudes, occurs in Pennsylva- 

 nia as a rather rare and irregular visitor during the late fall, winter and 

 early spring months. When found here the Pigeon Hawk is usually 

 seen singly, sometimes a pair are observed together searching food. 

 The species appears to be oftener met with in the mountainous and 

 wooded districts than elsewhere in the state. In the few examinations 

 which I have made of these hawks, only the remains of birds common 

 pigeons and sparrows have been detected. From my observations in 

 the field, as well as dissections, I believe the Pigeon Hawk during its 

 residence in this locality preys mainly on various small birds. The 

 following is taken from my note-book in relation to a pair of these 

 hawks: "Two Pigeon Hawks during the late fall lurked about the 

 southern suburbs of the borough of West Chester, preying at regular 

 intervals on the pigeons of a blacksmith. In one week the hawks killed 

 or drove away fifty of these birds. The hawks would enter the boxes 

 and take from them the pigeons." 



