LAND BIRDS. 269 
blackish bars and a narrow terminal edging of white. Bill black ; cere, feet and legs yellow; 
iris reddish brown to deep red. Length 14 to 17 inches; wing 8.85 to 9.40; tail 7.80 to 
8.30; tarsus 2.30 to 2.60. 
Adult female: Similar to male, but duller, browner and decidedly larger. Length 
18 to 20 inches; wing 10.10 to 11; tail 9 to 10.50; tarsus 2.60 to 2.85. 
Immature: Similar to corresponding ages of the Sharp-shinned Hawk, but of course 
larger. Most hawks require several years for attaining fully adult plumage and almost 
any intermixture of young and adult plumage is possible. 
137. Goshawk. Astur atricapillus atricapillus (Wils.). (334) 
Synonyms: American Goshawk, Blue Hen Hawk, Blue Darter, Partridge Hawk, 
Dove Hawk.—Falco atricapillus, Wils., 1812.—Astur atricapillus, Bonap., 1838, Wils., 
Nutt., and others.—Astur palumbarius, Sw. & Rich.—Astur palumbarius var. atricapillus, 
B.B. & R., 1875. 
With nearly the proportions of the two preceding species, but much 
larger than the largest, and far more heavily built. The immature bird 
closely resembles the immature Cooper’s Hawk in all but size, but the 
adult, with the blue-gray upper parts and finely cross-barred gray and white 
underparts, is entirely unlike any other hawk. 
Distribution.—Northern and eastern North America, south in winter 
to the middle states and southern Rocky Mountain region; casually west 
to Oregon. Breeding range restricted to the Canadian fauna of the United 
States and northward. 
A magnificent but bloodthirsty bird with a particular fondness for game- 
birds, chickens, and doves, to which it is very destructive whenever it has 
a fair chance. Fortunately for the farmer it is seldom seen in Michigan 
except In severe weather when his poultry are generally well housed. Under 
such circumstances the Goshawk chases the doves, and in spite of their 
great powers of flight not infrequently captures them. 
The great majority of specimens taken in the state are captured while 
trying to catch poultry or doves during severe cold weather Under 
normal conditions the Goshawk feeds principally upon grouse and other 
game birds, with an occasional rabbit or squirrel. Sometimes it is fairly 
common in winter in the northern half of the state, and then several winters 
may pass without any being observed. On the whole it must be considered 
a decidedly uncommon species. 
About the middle of November, 1906, a large flight of Goshawks entered 
Michigan from the north and overspread the entire state. In the neighbor- 
hood of Detroit. and especially in parts of western Ontario, they were 
particularly abundant, and a score or more of specimens were taken. One 
was taken at Morenci, Lenawee county, November 19, and one near Benton 
Harbor, Berrien county, about the same time. Mr. C. E. McAlvey informs 
me that about November 25, 1906, while hunting near Manistee, he shot a 
Partridge or Ruffed Grouse, and before he could recover it a large Goshawk 
darted down and carried it off. At about the same time a fine specimen 
was killed near Copemish, Manistee county, by Mr. H. A. Danville Jr. 
It is worthy of note that almost without exception the Goshawks of this 
flight seem to have been fully mature birds in the blue and white plumage, 
only a single immature bird having been taken. The entire time covered 
by this invasion did not exceed a month, and the birds disappeared as 
suddenly as they came. ; 
It probably nests in the state regularly, but in very small numbers, and 
most of our records are far from satisfactory. Mr. A. B. Covert visited 
a nest near Comers’ Camp, Wexford county, abeut six miles northwest of 
