COOPER'S HAWK. 



ACCIPITER COOPERII. 



Char. Adult bluish gray or almost bluish ash, head darker ; below, 

 whitish, breast and belly thickly streaked with reddish brown, sides with 

 a bluish tinge ; wings and tail barred with dark brown, tail tipped with 

 white. Length about i6 inches (female 2 to 3 inches longer). 



Nest. In a tree, near the trunk ; made of twigs, lined with grass. 



Eggs. 3-4 ; bluish white spotted with reddish brown (sometimes im- 

 maculate) ; 1.90 X 1.50. 



This fine species of Hawk is found in considerable numbers 

 in the Middle States, particularly New York and New Jersey, 

 in the autumn and at the approach of winter. It is also 

 seen in the Oregon territory to the shores of the Pacific. Its 

 food appears principally to be birds of various kinds ; from 

 the Sparrow to the Ruffed Grouse, all contribute to its rapa- 

 cious appetite. I have also seen this species as far south as 

 the capital of Alabama, and, in common with the preceding, 

 its depredations among the domestic fowls are very destructive. 

 Mr. Cooper informs me that the plumage of the adult male 

 bears the same analogy to the adult of F. fuscus as the young 

 of that species does to the present, excepting that the rufous 



