RAPTORES. 99 



though Dr. Dall in one instance saw it kill a Ptarmigan, and 

 Dr. E. A. Mearns speaks of a specimen shot in the act of de- 

 stroying a hen. Among insects dragon flies are favorite 

 morsels for this Hawk, and the apparent ease with which 

 it captures these nimble winged insects demonstrates better 

 than anything else its remarkable power of flight. The 

 writer has also found grasshoppers, crickets and beetles 

 among the stomach contents." (Fisher.) 



It is not easy to distinguish between this and some others 

 of the small hawks. However, this is one of the smallest and 

 darkest, with the habits of a Falcon, snatching its prey 

 from the ground or in the air without stopping its flight 

 instead of pouncing upon it and bearing it down by its 

 weight. 



135. (360.) Falco sparverius Linn. 164. 

 American Sparrow Hawk, 



Synonyms: Tinnunculus sparverius. 



Sparrow Hawk, Rusty-crowned Falcon. 

 Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 161, 178. 



This is universally conceded to be the commonest of our 

 hawks. It is common everywhere during the summer, but 

 is less common in the northern third of the state in winter 

 than in summer. It frequently comes into towns and city 

 parks at almost any time, to catch English Sparrows, and is 

 therefore seen by many persons who know nothing about 

 any other hawks. It is readily distinguished from all other 

 hawks by its bright rufous back and tail, and in the field by 

 its habit of hovering over a meadow as it scans the ground 

 for a mouse or insect. I have seen one spend an hour looking 

 over a ten-acre field in this way, hovering in one place for 

 about a minute, then change its position and hover again, 

 and finally fly to another field when unsuccessful. 



"The Sparrow Hawk is almost exclusively insectivorous 

 except when insect food is difficult to obtain. In localities 

 where grasshoppers and crickets are abundant these hawks 

 congregate, often in moderate sized flocks, and gorge them- 

 selves continuously. Rarely do they touch any other kind 



