236 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



AMERICAN GOSHAWK, 



A. O. U- No. 334. (Accipiter atricapillus) 



RANGE. 



Whole of North America except the Pacific coast, breeding chiefly 

 north of the United States and during the winter appearing over our 

 borders as far south as New Jersey, Missouri and California. In some 

 portions of the Rocky Mountains they remain to breed occasionally. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length, about 24 in., the female being about two inches longer than 

 the male. Eye; red in adults, yellow in young. Adults: — Above a 

 slaty blue becoming lighter and brighter with old age; below and a 

 broad line over the eye white, the under parts being finely waved with 

 gray and the feathers having black shafts; the crown is somewhat dark- 

 er than the back and is sometimes black. Young: — Entirely different 

 from the adults, being brownish above and dull white below with numer- 

 ous streaks on the underparts. 



The western Goshawk is similar to the eastern form but is darker be- 

 low. It is found on the Pacific coast from Oregon to Alaska. 



NEST AND EGGS. 



These hawks build bulky nests of sticks and twigs lined with leaves 

 and weeds. They are usually found in large forests or woods placed 

 well up towards the top of large trees, usually coniferous ones being 

 preferred. They lay from two to four white eggs with a slight bluish 

 tinge and frequently these will be found to have faint markings of 

 brownish. They are usually laid in April or early in May. 



HABITS. 



These large handsome birds are very powerful and audacious and are 

 more to be feared by the farmers in the fall when they are quite com- 

 mon, than any others of the family. They are similar in appearance to 



