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210 



FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 



A^eKt, on rocky cliffs and in the hollow limbs of toll trees. Fffffn, three to 

 four, varying from creamy wliite, hejivily markeil with cinnamoii-hrown, to 

 pale reddish brown, more or less luurked with shades of the same color, 

 2-05 X l-(i8. 



This species is the " Noble Peregrine " of falconry. It would be 

 dilTicult to imagine a bird more highly endowed with qualities which 

 make the ideal bird of prey. Its strength of wing and talon is 

 equaled by its courage. No bird flies more swiftly than the Duck 

 Hawk. Even Teal — those winged bullets — can not escape it. No 

 bird is more daring. I have had Duck Hawks dart down to rob me 

 of wounded Snipe lying almost at my feet, nor did my ineffective 

 shots prevent them from returning. 



Duck Hawks are generally found near water, where they prey 

 largely on water birds. 



" Of 20 stomachs examhied, 7 contained poultry or game birds ; 9, 

 other birds ; 1, mice ; 2, insects ; and 4 were empty " (Fisher). 



367. Falco COlumbarius Linn. Pigeon Hawk. J^/.— Upper parts 

 slaty blue, a broken butty or rusty collar on the neck ; primaries barred with 

 white; tall with three or four distinct grayish white l)ars and a white tip; 

 under parts varying from cream-bulf to deep ochraceous, streaked with black- 

 isli, excejit on the throat. Jiii. — Uj)pcr parts fuscous or brownish fuscous, a 

 broken buffy collar on the nape ; primaries barred with ochraceous ; tail with 

 three or four incomplete buflfy bars and a whitish tij) ; umlcr parts much a.t 

 in the ad. L., 10-00-13-00 ; W., 8-00 ; T., TvaO ; B. from N., -45. 



Kemarh, — This little Falcon bears some resemblance to a Duck Ilawk, 

 but is much smaller. 



Range. — Breeds from the northern United States northward; winters from 

 the Southern States southward to Soutli America. 



Washington, not uncommon T. V. Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V., 

 Apl. 1 to May 11 ; Aug. 10 to Oct. 15. Cambridge, common T. V., Apl. 10 to 

 May 5; Sept. and Oct.; occasional in winter. 



Nest^ in trees, in hollow limbs, or on clitl's. Fijijs, four to five, varying 

 from creamy white, more or less heavily marked with reddish brown or choco- 

 late, to reddish brown marked with shades of the saflie color, I'Ga x l-'JO. 



" This Falcon, with the exception possibly of the Broad-winged 

 Hawk, is the least shy of all our diurnal birds of prey, and often 

 may be approached within a few rods. It frequents the more open 

 country and edges of woods, and is common along the shores of large 

 bodies of water. . . . 



" The flight is very rapid and resembles that of the Wild Pigeon 

 quite closely ; nor does the similarity end here, for while sitting on a 

 tree the general poise is that of a Pigeon in repose, and specimens 

 have been mistaken and shot for the latter bird. . . . 



