LAND BIRDS. 291 
This dainty little falcon is one of the less common hawks, and although 
it has been recorded from all parts of the state (mainly as a migrant) it is 
never abundant and many a collector has spent several seasons in the 
field without even seeing one. So seldom is it met with, and so generally 
is it confounded with other small hawks, that the notes from our corres- 
pondents are of little value in determining its habits. Like the Duck Hawk 
and the Sharp-shin it feeds much upon birds, and thus should be con- 
sidered rather an injurious hawk; yet its scarcity saves it from this reproach. 
Of 51 stomachs reported upon by Dr. A. K. Fisher, 2 contained poultry; 
41, small birds; 2, mice; and 16, insects. 
We do not know that its nest has ever been taken in Michigan. The 
nearest approach to it is the fact that an adult and three young (able to 
fly) were seen, and two of the young taken, by a member of the University 
of Michigan party at the Porcupine Mountains, in Ontonagon county, 
July 24, 1904. It would seem extremely probable that these young were 
reared in that immediate vicinity. The same party afterward (Aug. 23, 
1904) saw several, and took three, on Isle Royale in Lake Superior. Mr. 
Norman A. Wood noted ten individuals at the Charity Islands, Saginaw 
Bay, during the fall migration, 1910, from August 30 to October 10, and 
took several specimens. Major Boies found it frequently on Neebish 
Island, in the St. Mary’s River, during summer, and had no doubt that it 
bred there. 
In the far north (Alaska and the Anderson River country), according to 
Major Bendire, it nests in May or June, placing its nest in hollows of trees 
or on the limbs, as well as frequently on the ledges of cliffs. The eggs, two 
to four in number, are soiled white or buffy, more or less heavily spotted 
with brown and cinnamon, and average 1.59 by 1.23 inches. 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Bill of the falcon type, with tooth and notch; second and third primaries longest and 
about equal, only the first and second emarginate on inner web; middle tail feathers with 
not more than four dark and five light bands. 
Adult male: Above, bluish-gray with black shaft-stripes, and much rusty and white 
about the back of neck; under parts buffy, thickly striped ‘with brown or black; inner 
webs of primaries with numerous (6 to 8) light bars or spots; tail mainly black, crossed 
by four narrow whitish or buffy bands and narrowly tipped with same color; bill horn- 
colored; cere and feet greenish-yellow; iris brown. : 
Adult female and young: Similar, but brownish above, with less white on the hind 
neck; the under parts less rusty than in the adult male. 
Male: Length 10 to 11 inches; wing 7.40 to 7.80; tail 4.65 to 5.20. Female: Length 
12.50 to 13.25 inches; wing 8.35 to 8.60; tail 5.30 to 5.50. 
147. Sparrow Hawk. Falco sparverius sparverius Linn. (360) 
Synonyms: American Sparrow Hawk, Rusty-crowned Falcon, American Kestrel, 
Mouse Hawk.—Falco sparverius, Linn., 1758, and authors generally.—Tinnunculus 
‘sparverius, Vieill—Falco (Tinnunculus) sparverius var. sparverius, B. B. & R., 1875. 
Plate XXIII and Figure 76. 
The typical falcon bill, small size, and rust-red color suffice to identify 
this bird. A glance at Plate XXIII probably will serve the same purpose. 
Distribution.—North America east of the Rocky Mountains, and from 
Great Slave Lake south to northern South America. 
This is by far our commonest falcon, being indeed the only one which 
is at all abundant. Occasionally it is seen in winter, but more often it 
