119 



species. One good word can be said for this little hawk, it is fond of the 

 English Sparrows and takes toll of their flocks about the smaller towns and 

 cities. Pelee point on lake Erie is a famous Sharp-shinned resort in the 

 autumn, and great numbers of Thrushes, Vireos, Sparrows, and other 

 small birds annually fall victims to these active little freebooters. 



333. Cooper's Hawk, chicken hawk. fr. — l'Apbbvier db cooper. Aedpiter 

 cooperi. L, 15 • 50. Similar to the Sharp-shinned Hawk, but larger. 



Distinctions. A small, male Cooper's Hawk may come very close in measurement to 

 a large female Sharp-shinned, and a large female to a small male Goshawk. Cooper's 

 Hawk can be distinguished from the sharp-shinned by its rounded instead of square tail and 

 its comparatively shorter and heavier tarsus. At no age is it like the adult Goshawk in 

 coloration, but juvenile plumages are very similar. The best guide to separation other than 

 size is the feathering of the tarsus; about one-third is covered in Cooper's Hawk and about 

 one-half in the Goshawk. It may also resemble young plumages of the Red-shouldered 

 Hawk, which see. It may also be easily confused with the juvenile Broad-winged Hawk, 

 but has the first four instead of the three outer primaries abruptly narrowed or emar^nated. 



Field Marks. Aocipiter outline and size are the best field guides. The round instead 

 of sqiiare tail will help distinguish this from the Sharp-shinned. Coloration of the adults 

 is the only field mark besides size to differentiate from the Goshawk. 



Nesting. In trees, much like the Sharp-shinned Hawk, but seldom in conifers. 



Distribution. From the northern borders of settlement south throughout the United 

 States. 



An even worse species than the Sharp-shinned as its larger size gives 

 it greater power and capacity for damage. Showing an almost equal spirit 

 it seeks larger prey and even a fairly well-grown chicken is not safe from it. 

 Adult fowls are rarely attacked unless feeble. 



Economic Status. Of 94 stomachs examined, 34 contained poultry or 

 game birds; 52, other birds; 11, mammals; 1 frog; 3, lizards; and 2, 

 insects. The mammals consisted of rodents, mostly harmful, but one a 

 Grey Squirrel; making a total of 87 food contents against the species, 12 

 in its favour, and 4 neutral. As it is a comparatively common Hawk 

 throughout much of the settled parts of the country it is certainly a menace 

 and is responsible for much of the popular ill-repute of the order as a whole. 



334. American Goshawk, blue partridge hawk, hen hawk. fr. — l'autour 

 A tAte noire. Astur atricapillus. L, 22. Plate XII B. 



Distinctions. Adults, with their characteristic slate-blue coloration and fine vermi- 

 culation, are not to be mistaken for any other American bird. The juveniles, however, 

 are very similar to other young Accipiters and a small male will sometimes approach in 

 size to a large female Cooper's Hawk. In such case, the tarsus feathered for one-haK in- 

 stead of one-third its length and the sUght tinge of buff to the white of the underparts of 

 this species will distinguish the forms. 



Field Marks. Adults are distinguishable by coloration. Juveniles can be recognized 

 by their size and Aedpiter outline of long tail and short, round wings. 



Nesting. In trees. 



Distrihution. Breeds across the continent within the borders of settlement. Its 

 winter migratory movements are usually of small extent, though it occasionally visits our 

 southern borders in considerable nimibers. Paralleling the case of the Snowy Owl such 

 flights are hkely to contain mostly adults, though, normally, juveniles are much the com- 

 moner south of the breeding distribution. It is probable that these occasional flights are 

 caused by the periodic failure of rabbit food in their usual habitats. 



SUBSPECIES. The American Goshawk is divided into two subspecies, but only 

 the typical form, the Eastern Goshawk, occurs in eastern Canada. 



The American representative of the Old World Goshawk or "Goose 

 Hawk", which seems to be the original name. It was the only short- 

 winged Hawk regularly used in ancient falconry. It was flown at hares. 



