North American Birds Eggs. 



171 



360. Sparrow Hawk. Ftilcii s}i<irrcrius. 

 Range. — North America, east of the Reeky Mountains and nortli to Hudson 



Bay; winters from the middle portions of tlie United States, soutliward. 



This lieautiful little Faleon is the smallest of the 

 American Hawks, lieing (jnly 10 inches in length. 

 They are very abundant in the east, nesting anywhere 

 in cavities in trees, either in woods or open fields. 

 The eggs are generally deposited upon the bottom of 

 the cavity with no lining; they are creamy or yellow- 

 ish buff in color, sprinkled, spotted or blotched, in 

 endless variety, with reddish brown. Size l.JiS x 1.10. 

 They are very noisy, especially when the young are 

 learning to dy, uttering a loud, tinkling, "killy, 

 killy, killy." They have a very amiable disposition, 

 and frequentl}' nest harmoniously in the same tree 

 with other birds, such as Flickers and Robins. 



[Jluffy 



360a. Desert Sparrow Hawk. Falco fijjarvcriii>i phahi'iia. 



Range — Western I'nited States from British Oolumbia south to Mexico. 



This variety is slightly larger and paler than the eastern form. There are no 

 differences in the niditication of the two varieties. 



360b. St. Lucas Sparrow Hawk. Fa.lro ttpai'vcria^ pciiinsii,lt(ris. 



Range. — Lower California. 



This variety is smaller than the eastern, and even paler than the western 

 form. Eggs identical with eastern specimens. 



[36 1.] Cuban Sparrow Hawk. Falco (hiiiiiiilccnsix. 



A darker coloretl West Intlian form, whose habits and nesting do not vary 

 from those of the common Sparrow Hawk; casually taken in Florida. 



362. Audubon Caracara. PohjboruH c/irriiraij. 



Range — Southern border of the United States south to South America. 



A strikingly marked blackish 

 and whitish species, much barred 

 on the fore back and the breast, 

 with the head and throat largely 

 white, except for a black and 

 somewhat crested crown. They 

 are numerous in southern Texas 

 and also in the interior of south- 

 ern Florida, where thej' are res- 

 ident. They build bulky, but 

 shabby nests of sticks, weeds and 

 grass, piled into a promiscuous 

 heap, generally located in bushes 

 or low trees. Their two or three 

 eggs have a ground color varying 

 from buff to bright cinnamon, 

 and are dotted and blotched with 

 all shades of brown and umber. 

 On the whole, these eggs show a 

 greater diversity of markings 



and ground color, than those of iriimaiiion.J 



any other species. Size 2.50 x 

 1.80. 



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