Kites, Hawks, Eagles, etc. 



The Pigeon Hawk {Falco columbarius), a much smaller fili' 

 buster than the preceding, being a foot or less in length, bears 

 some resemblance to it in habits. Without hesitation it will 

 attack a bird of its own or greater size, strangle it, pluck it, and 

 feast upon its breast. Following in the wake of migrant song 

 birds, it keeps an interested eye on a weak or wounded robin, 

 bobolink, or blackbird, to pounce upon it the instant it straggles 

 behind the flock. In the air and when perching, it so closely re- 

 sembles the passenger pigeon that it has not infrequently been 

 mistaken and shot for one. The pigeon hawk is an equally rapid 

 flyer, and, of course, far more dashing than that rather spiritless 

 bird. As if to be avenged for the misdirected shots that kill its 

 race instead of the pigeons, the hawk eats them whenever it has 

 an opportunity. Open country and the edges of woods, particu- 

 larly near water, are its favorite hunting grounds throughout a 

 range extending over the whole of North America. As it nests 

 chiefly north of the United States, and spends its winters south, 

 even touching northern South America and the West Indies, it 

 is as a spring and autumn migrant that we know the pigeon 

 hawk here. Its upper parts vary between slaty blue and brown- 

 ish gray, with a broken rusty or buff collar ; its primaries are 

 barred with whiie ; the under parts are buff or pale fawn color, 

 almost white on the throat ; the breast and sides have large ob- 

 long brown spots, and the tail has three or four grayish white 

 bars and a white tip. As the bird is far from shy, it is not diffi- 

 cult to get a glimpse at the plumage while it perches on a low 

 branch waiting for its prey to heave in sight. 



American Sparrow Hawk 



{Falco sparverius) 



Called also: RUSTY CROWNED FALCON; AMERICAN 



KESTREL; MOUSE HAWK; KILLY HAWK 



(Illustration facing p. 321) 



Length — 10 to 1 1 inches. Sexes the same size. 



Male— Top of head slaty blue, generally with a reddish spot on 

 crown, and several black patches on sides and nape; back 

 rufous, with a few black spots or none; wing coverts ashy 

 blue with or without black spots; tail bright rufous, white 



330 



