FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 



193 



Family Falconid^. Falcons, Hawks, Eagles, etc. 



The three hundred and fifty species included in this family are 

 distributed throughout ilie world. One tenth of the number are found 

 in North Americf, During tlie migratory seasons they may some- 

 times be seen traveling in scattered flocks, which may take hours to 

 pass a giveti point. At other times of the year, with few exceptions, 

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

 the breeding season many species have definitely bounded haunts, upon 

 which intrusion by individuals of the same species is not permitted. 

 With much regularity they return to the same locality and even the 

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

 Their days are an unceasing vigil. At all times they are 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 of 

 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 of 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 cf»arse twigs 

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

 are or have been recently occupied. 



KKV TO THE SPECIES. 



I. Win? over 19'00. 

 A. Upper luilf of tarsus fi'atliored. 



a. Whole head and neck wliite S'>2. Balo PIaoi.e (Ad.). 



b. Ilciid and neck brown or 1)n)wnish. 



lA. Bill mostly yellow (Creenland) . . 351. Gray Sea Eagle fAd.). 



h*. Bill black or blackish 352. Bai.u Eagle (Im.). 



Ji. Whole tarsus feathered 349. Golden Eagle. 



n. Wing under 19-00. 



1. Feathers of under parts more or less streaked and 

 spotted* without cross-bars. 



A. Outer primary with numerous black or blackish bars. 

 a. WiuiT under 10-00. 

 a>. Back bright rufous, witii or without black bai-s. 



3t;0. Am. Si'arkow Hawk. 



a*. Back bluish slate-cnlor 357. I'ioeon- Hawk (Ad.). 



a*. Back fuscous, second primary longest. 



357. riGEov Hawk (Iul). 

 a*. Back fuscous, fourth primary longest, tail-fcatlicrs of nearly ccpial 



length ; wing under 900 332. Smaki'-suinned Hawk. 



14 





f 



