The American Sparrow Hawk 



By WILLIAM DUTCHER 



Chairman National Committee of Audubon Societies 



DESCRIPTION 



yJduli Mall. — General aspect above bright rufous; top of head bluish slate with rufous crown patch, which 

 ■varies very greatly in size in different individuals; a series of large black patches commences under eyes and ex- 

 tends to back of neck; back barred with black, in some birds profusely, others very slightly; sub-terminal broad 

 band of black on tail, followed by white tip; outer feathers of tail and sometimes others marked with black and 

 white, showing conspicuously from below; wing, upper part bluish, more or less spotted or barred with black, 

 long quill feathers black, inner web barred with white, showing conspicuously from underneath; under parts 

 •varying from almost white to deep buff, more or less spotted, with black on sides and belly; throat white. 



Adult Female. — General appearance above rufous, very heavily barred with black; head like that of male, show- 

 ing similar individual variation; wing, long quill feathers, black spotted on upper surface with rufous, but show- 

 ing silvery, barred with black, from below; underneath, whitish, heavily streaked with brown, varying in shade 

 from pale to very dark. 



The variation in the pattern of plumage of the Sparrow Hawks is very remarkable, making it extremely dif- 

 ficult to accurately describe the species. In a large series of specimens, hardly any two birds arc exactly alike 

 in detail. 



Immature. — Plumage very similar to adults, the sexes being distinguishable as soon as the young are able 

 ■to fly. 



%ize. — Male, from end of bill to end of tail varies from 8.75 to 10.50 inches; the female is larger, varying 

 sfrom Q.50 to 12 inches. 



Nest. — Is in a cavity of some kind; a hole in a tree, either natural or the work of some Woodpecker, and, 

 where trees are not available, a hole in a sandstone cliff or in a clay bank. 



Eggs. — Usually from three to five, which vary in color from clear white to buff or cream; spotted, blotched, 

 marbled, or sprinkled with shades of walnut brown, chestnut, cinnamon, rufous and ochraceous in varying pat- 

 terns. "Scarcely any two sets are exactly alike." (Bendire.) 



Distribution. — The Sparrow Hawk is found in all parts of North America, from Great Slave Lake southward to 

 iiorthern South America. West of the Rocky Mountains a slightly different species is recognized, known as the 

 Desert Sparrow Hawk (FaUo sfarverius phalcena) , and in Lower California is still another species, called St. Lucas 

 Sparrow Hawk (Falco sparverius insularis) ; however, for the purposes of this leaflet, which is issued to call at- 

 tention to the economic value of the Sparrow Hawks, but one species is described. The actual difference between 

 he three species is so very slight that only the most expert and critical ornithologist can observe it; the lay- 

 man can see no difference in the plumages, and as the habits of all are the same, and all deserve protection, 

 •consideration as separate subspecies is not necessary at this time. 



The Sparrow Hawk is the smallest of the North American Hawks, and is also our most 

 •beautiful species, as well as being one of the most beneficial. Its name is singularly inap- 

 propriate, as it in no way resembles a Sparrow in form or habits, nor does it eat them to 

 any serious extent. If it could be renamed at the present time, it might very properly be 

 •called the Grasshopper Hawk, because it destroys such enormous quantities of these destruc- 

 tive insects. The only species that the Sparrow Hawk can be confused with is the Pigeon 

 Hawk or the Sharp-shinned Hawk. While it is always somewhat difficult to recognize some 

 birds while flying, or even while at rest, yet it may be done by a careful observer, and it 

 ■should be done in the case of the Sparrow Hawk because of its great worth and entire lack 

 •of harmful qualities. 



The large amount of chestnut color on the back and tail of both sexes of the Sparrow 

 Hawk is a strong distinguishing mark, the Pigeon Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk being 

 much darker. 



Below, the Sparrow Hawk presents a much lighter effect than the two other species, 

 which are heavily barred or streaked underneath. The length of the wings is another very 

 marked point of difference in the Sparrow Hawks, When the Sparrow Hawk is perched 

 with wings folded they reach nearly to the end of the tail, while the wings of the Sharp- 

 shinned Hawk fall far short of it. The flight of these small Hawks differs quite materi- 

 .ally, the Sparrow Hawk being much given to hovering in the open, when it will drop to 



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