SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 



Bluish-gray above; under parts whitish closely barred 

 with white and reddish ; wings barred with black ; tail square, 

 dark gray and tipped with white. Length, eleven inches. 

 Female, two or three inches larger. 



Nest, in a tree, thirty feet up, made of twigs and lined 

 with grass and leaves. Eggs, three to four, white tinged with 

 blue or green and spotted with brown, 1.40 x 1.15 inches. 



This is one of the smaller Hawks common in the North 

 during the season from March to October. The most of this 

 species spend the winter months south of New York State. 

 It arrives early in March and nests by the middle of that 

 month. In appearance and habits it is much like Cooper's 

 Hawk, differing mainly in being smaller and in having a square 

 tail instead of a rounded one like the latter. The habits of 

 these two species make them the most destructive of the 

 Hawks. 



The Sharp-shinned flies low and very rapidly, and before 

 the farmer is aware that a Hawk is near^ one of them dashes 

 into the poultry yard and, amidst much commotion, carries off 

 a chicken. It deserves the name of Chicken Hawk, a term 

 too often applied to all Hawks by those who are not familiar 

 with the Hawk family. 



It is even more destructive to smaller birds than to 

 poultry. It usually attacks them on the wing, darting after 

 them with great speed as they fly to the thickets for cover ; but 

 these really prove no protection from their sharp-eyed pursuer 

 which usually overtakes them. One stroke from its talons or 

 beak is enough to kill or subdue a small tird, after which the 



100 



