THE COOPER HAWK. 399 



turn about overhead, displaying as it sails the fine barred pattern of its wing- 

 linings and its long square-ended tail; but oftener the bird is aware of your 

 presence in advance and keeps ^yarily out of range. It is not infrequently 

 seen in the neighborhood of the poultry-house, and then quick action is 

 required to prevent its seizing a chick or a young pullet and .carrying it off to 

 feed other than the rightful owner thereof. 



It is idle to try to speak a good word for this gory little Hawk ; rodents 

 and insects are eaten only occasionally, while birds of every size up to pigeons 

 and quails are its regular diet. According to Dr. Fisher, of 107 stomachs 

 examined containing food, six held poultry or game birds, "99 other birds; 

 6 mice; 5 insects." 



No. 178. 



COOPER HAWK. 



A. O. U. No. 333. Accipiter cooperii (Bonap.). 



Synonym. — Chicken Hawk. 



Description. — Adult: Similar to preceding species, but decidedly larger; 

 the top of head deeper slate, or blackish ; the tail slightly or considerably rounded ; 

 sides of breast often tinged with bluish gray. Immature : Similar to preced- 

 ing species ; streaking of under parts less abundant, more sharply defined, and of 

 darker shades; belly and sometimes throat immaculate, or tending to become so. 

 Differences between adult and young rather more clearly marked than in A. velox. 

 Very variable in size. Adult male length 14.00-17.00 (355.5-43I-8) ; wing 8.50- 

 9.50 (215.9-241.3); tail 7.00-8.50 (177.8-215.9) ; bill from cere .60-.65 (15.2- 

 16.5). Adult female length 18.00-20.00 (457.2-508.) ; wing 9. 75-11.00 (247.6- 

 279.4) ; tail 8.50-10.00 (215.9-254.) ; bill from cere .70-.80 (17.8-20.3). 



Recognition Marks. — Crow size ; adult heavily barred below with cinnamon- 

 rufous ; young heavily striped on breast and sides with dark brown or dusky ; 

 top of head blackish, tail long, rounded. Almost always distinguishable from A. 

 velox by greater size. 



Nest, of sticks and green leaves, high in trees. Sometimes a deserted Crow's 

 nest is used. Eggs, 3-6, pale bluish white, sometimes spotted with light brown; 

 subspherical. Av. size, 1.92 x 1.52 (48.8 x 38.6). 



General Range. — North America from southern British America south to 

 southern Mexico. Breeds throughout its range. 



Range in Ohio. — Common resident in middle and southern Ohio. Summer 

 resident in northern Ohio. 



THIS is the real culprit. This is the "Chicken Hawk" par excellence. 

 Punish him who will ! Of larger size than the preceding, this bird with the 

 rounded tail is more secretive in its habits, and its evil deeds are laid to the 



