ACCIPITRES — FALCONIDAE-FALCO. 
15 
THE PIGEON HAWK. 
Falco columbarius. 
PLATE IV. FIG. 9 (Male). 
(STATE COLLECTION. Male & Female.) 
Falco columbarius, Lin. 12 ed. p. 128. 
Pigeon Hawk . Wils. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 107, pi. 15. fig. 3 (male). 
Little Corporal Hawk. Audubon, folio, pi. 92 (young); pi. 75 (young). Nuttall, Manual, Vol. 1, p. 60. 
Pigeon Hawk, Aud. Orn. Biog. Vol. 1, p. 466 and 381; Vol. 5, p. 368. Id. B. of A. Vol. 1, p, 88, pi. 21 (male 
and female). 
Falco columbarius. Giraud, Birds of Long Island, p. 17. 
Characteristics. Dusky; beneath whitish, with interrupted stripes. Tail with 4-6 nar- 
now bands. Under side of wings varied with black and rust-color. 
Length, 11 inches. 
Description. Bill curved and notched as in preceding species. Wings, when folded, 
reaching to within an inch of the tail, which is slightly rounded. Third primary longest. 
Thigh-feathers long. Tarsus reticulated. 
Color. Whole upper parts dusky, except the tail, which is of a darker hue, and barred 
with white and slaty bluish white. Chin and throat white. Sides of the head, breast, thigh- 
feathers and under tail-coverts reddish brown, with dark drop-shaped streaks. Irregular 
brown or whitish bars on the under side of the primaries. Bill bluish at the base, darker at 
the tip ; cere greenish ; legs yellow. Young: Head reddish brown streaked with dusky. 
Female, darker, with some white on the hind part of the head. 
Length, 10'0-12'0. Alar extent, 22'0-25 - 0. 
This species has been termed the Bullet Hawk, in allusion to its swiftness. It occurs 
over the Union, and has also been seen in Texas. It is, however, a northern bird, ranging 
to the 65th degree. It is not uncommon in this State, several having been brought to me in 
a season. It does not, however, as far as I have ascertained, breed here. It is usually ob¬ 
served most numerous in the autumn, when birds are preparing for their annual emigrations. 
Peculiar to America. 
