140 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



Falco sparverius LINN. 



American Sparrow Hawk. 



DESCRIPTION (Plate 16; Fig. 2, female; Fig. 3, male). 



This common little falcon can easily be recognized by comparison with figures on 

 plate. 



Length 10 to 12 inches ; extent of wings 18 to 23 inches. 

 Habitat. Whole of North America, south to northern South America. 



This well-known little hawk is the smallest and most beautiful of the 

 family Falconidce. It is a resident, but is more numerous during- fall 

 and winter than at other seasons. Unlike other of our native hawks, it 

 sometimes rears two broods in a season. The Sparrow Hawk builds no 

 nest, but deposits her eggs numbering- from five to seven, rarely the 

 latter number in hollow trees, selecting usually the deserted hole of a 

 woodpecker. The eggs, nearly spherical, measure about 1.33 by 1.13 

 inches, and are of a whitish or pale yellow brown color, blotched all over 

 with dark brown. Oviposition occurs in April. Occasionally, if the 

 eggs are taken, the bird will a second time deposit egg-s in the same 

 nest. When the young or eggs are disturbed the parent birds will 

 sometimes defend invasion of their domicile with great temerity. Some 

 few years ago I was endeavoring to secure the young from a nest of this 

 species. I had climbed the tree to the aperture, about thirty -five feet 

 from the ground, wherein were snugly packed five young, one of which 

 I removed, when both old birds assailed me. They several times struck 

 my head and arms with their talons and wings. So persistent were 

 their attacks that I, desiring to obtain the young alive, directed a com- 

 panion, who stood near by, to shoot both birds. I have repeatedly 

 taken the eggs and young of this species, but never, only in the above- 

 cited instance, encountered such determined opposition. When reared 

 from the nest, this species will soon become attached to its master. I 

 raised two, which were given their freedom. Both birds would come at 

 my call and alight on my outstretched arm or shoulders, anxiously waiting 

 for a grasshopper or piece of meat, which was always their recompense. 

 This hawk will resort for several consecutive years to the same tree for 

 breeding purposes. From Doctor Wood's "Birds of Connecticut" the 

 following remarks, with regard to the nesting of this bird, are taken 



" One of my collectors found a nest of four eggs in the top of a stump, 

 about ten feet from the ground. This nest was composed of grass, and 

 was discovered by the grass protruding through a crack in the stump. 

 Whether this hawk constructed this nest, or whether it had been made 

 by some other bird, it is impossible to tell ; but if this hawk constructs 

 no nest, as asserted by Doctor Brewer and others, it must have obtained 

 it piratically, as the nest was new. In another instance, which occurred 

 in Granby, Connecticut, the nest was known to have been obtained in 

 this way : A farmer made a dove-house inside of his barn, with holes 



