ACCIPITRES-FALCONID.E-ASTUR. 
19 
THE AMERICAN GOSHAWK. 
Astur atricapillus. 
PLATE II. FIG. 4 (Adult). FIG. 5 (Young male). 
(STATE COLLECTION. Collection of Mr. Giraud.) 
Falco atricapillvs. Wils. Orn. Vol. 6, p. 80, pi. 52, fig. 3, 
Goshawk. Aup. Orn. Bioir. Vol. 2, p. 241 ; folio, plate 141. 
F (Astur) palumbarius. Bonap. Am. Lyc. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 28. 
Ac. (Astur) palumbarius. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 39, pi. 26. 
American Goshawk. NuttaLL, Manual, Vol. 1, p. 85. 
Astur atricapillus. Bonap. Comp. List, p. 5. 
Astur id. AUT) B. of A. Vol. 1, p 95, pi. 23 (adult male and young). 
Astur palumbarius. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 18. 
Characteristics. Dark blue-black above ; line over the eyes white; beneath grey on a 
light ground. Tail deeply rounded. Female and young, brown above ; 
lighter beneath, wiili oblong brown spots. Length, 24 inches. 
Description. Nostrils suboval, large. Fourth primary longest. Tips of the wings not 
reaching within six inches of the end of the tail. Inner webs of the primaries, from the 
second to the seventh, cut out. 
Color. Bluish grey or blackish above ; darker on the wing-coverts, where the feathers are 
margined with white. Sides of the head tinged with rufous, with dark oblong spots or a 
large blotch from the eye to the shoulder : a whitish streak over the eye. 2-4 narrow black 
bars on the upper surface of the primaries, which are tipped with white. Tail light brown, 
with bars of darker brown ; each bar margined on each side with white : end of tail white. 
Beneath whitish, but covered with so many longitudinal and transverse bars of grey as to 
assume that general color. Cere, space round the eye, and legs yellow. Female and young : 
Brown above ; the feathers edged with white. Head and neck rufous, streaked with brown. 
Beneath white tinged with rufous, with drop-shaped streaks of brown. 
Length, 22 , 0-24. Extent of wings, 40 0 - 45'0. 
This species, as will be perceived, varies very much with age and sex in its markings. It 
has been questioned whether this is identical with the Goshawk of Europe. Wilson was 
unable to compare it directly with that species, but decided to consider it as new. Bonaparte, 
in the Annals of the Lyceum, cited above, supposed it to be the same, and refers to a plate 
in his forthcoming Ornithology, which, however, never appeared. In this opinion he was 
followed by Audubon and Richardson. Swainson, on the other hand, believes the American 
to be a distinct species, and the differences are pointed out in Jardine’s octavo edition of Wil¬ 
son, and in Nuttall’s Manual. I coincide in opinion with Nuttall in considering it as a distinct 
species, but closely allied to the European Goshawk, so renowned in the annals of falconry. 
Since the above was written, I perceive that Bonaparte regards this species as distinct. 
The American Goshawk is a northern bird, but is found in almost every State as far south 
as Louisiana. Richardson states them to be found as high as 68° north. It preys on ducks, 
pigeons, hares, etc. Audubon has observed them breeding at Niagara. Their nests are con¬ 
structed on lofty trees, and contain four bluish white granulated eggs. Peculiar to America. 
3* 
