BIRDS OF PREY 143 



parts and long narrow wings which generally are held 

 with a sharp bend. 



Of the medium-sized or smaller hawks there are 

 two that are especially common, and quite similar, 

 the Cooper's and the sharp-shinned hawks. They 

 are closely related, and are characterized by the long 

 tail, short wings, and a flight by quick flappings, with 

 very short intervals of sailing. They can readily be 

 distinguished by size; the sharp-shin is notably smal- 

 ler, not much bigger than a robin. 



Taking these common hawks as a basis, learn to 

 distinguish them from certain others. One species 

 about the size of Cooper's is the broad-winged hawk. 

 In coloration these two are a good deal alike, but the 

 broad-wing is a sort of miniature red-shoulder in 

 form and movement. It has a short banded tail, 

 slower wing-beats, and soars and circles like its larger 

 relative. The duck hawk is about this size, a very 

 dark bird with sharp wings and quick, incisive flight, 

 but is so rare that most students will never see it. 

 The goshawk is built like the Cooper's, but is notice- 

 ably larger, the adult having beautifully pencilled 

 gray under-parts. 



Then there are smaller hawks to distinguish from 

 the sharp-shin. The pigeon hawk or falcon is a 

 spring and fall migrant to and from Canada, a dark- 

 colored bird, a sort of miniature duck hawk in general 

 appearance. The other little fellow is the sparrow 

 hawk, distinguished by its reddish back, a frequenter 

 of open farm-lands. 



