North American Birds Eggs. 



169 



35 6. Duck Hawk. Falco jiercgrinusanatum 



Range.— Whole of North America, breed- 

 ing locally, chiefly in mountainous re- 

 gions, throughout its range. 



This beautiful species, characterized by 

 its black moustache, is the most graceful, 

 fearless, and swiftest of the Falcons, strik- 

 ing down birds of several times its own 

 ■weight, such as some of the larger Ducks. 

 It breeds quite abundantly on the Pacific 

 coast and in certain localities in the Da- 

 kotas, laying its eggs on the rock}' ledges. 

 Their eggs are similar to those of the 

 Prairie Falcon, but are darker and bright- 

 er, in fact they are tue darkest, brightest 

 marked, and most beautiful of Falcon 

 eggs; size 2.05 x 1.55. Data. — Stark Co., 

 N. D., May 4, 1901. Eggs laid on the grave 

 Collector, Edw. Dodd. 



[JSuff or reddish buff] 

 on ledge of high rocky butte 



356a. Peale Falcon. Falrii piTcgrinus pcalci. 



^ Range. — Pacific coast from northern United States north to Alaska. 



A darker form of the preceding, such as occurs in this section with a great 

 many other birds. The nesting habits and the eggs are precisely like those of 

 the Duck Hawk. 



357. 



Pigeon Hawk. 



[IJrownisli buff) 

 Labrador, ^lay 29, 1899. 

 3 feet up. 



Falro coUiinhnrius. 



Range.— North America, breeding chiefly north 

 of the T'nited States except in some of tlie higher 

 ranges afong our northern border. A small Falcon, 

 about 11 inches long, often confused with the 

 Sharp-shinned Hawk, l)ut much darker and a more 

 stoutly built bird. It is a daring species, <iften 

 attacking birds larger than itself; it also feeds on 

 mice, grasshoppers, squirrels, etc. They generally 

 build a slight nest of sticks in trees, deep in the 

 woods; less often in natural cavities of dead trees; 

 and sometimes on rocky ledges. The eggs have a 

 brownish buff ground color, heavily blotched with 

 brown and chestnut. Size 1.50 x 1.22. Data. — So. 

 Nest aplatform of sticks, twigs and moss in a pine tree, 

 Five eggs. Collector, E. H. Montgomery. 



357a. Black Merlin. Falco columharim mckleyi. 



j^ange. —Pacific coast from northern United States north to Alaska. 



Very similar in appearance to the preceding, but much darker, both above and 

 below. Its nesting habits and eggs will not differ in any manner from those of 

 the Pigeon Hawk. 



