BIRDS OF PREY 



(334) Astur atricapillus atrl= 

 capillus 



(Wihon) (T^at.. a hawk; black-haired) 



GOSHAWK; BLUE HEN HAWK 

 Tarsi strong, feathered half^as 

 down in front. Ads. — Above dark 

 bluish-slate color, each feather with 

 a black shaft hne; below whitish, 

 closely barred with zigzag blackish 

 lines and penciled with black shaft 

 streaks. Top of the head blackish 

 as shown, being separated from the 

 dark sides of the head by a whitish 

 superciliary line. Im. — Above dark 

 brown, varied with whitish and rust\ , 

 below streaked with dark brown 

 L., 20.00-24.00; Ex., 42.00; T.,9.00 

 12.00; Tar., 2.75. 



Range — Breeds from N. H. and 

 Mich, north to Ungava, Keewatin 

 and .Alaska. Winters in northern 

 United States. 



new ones of their own; consequently their nests are most 

 often found in coniferous trees. When they make their 

 own home, it is usually placed at no great height and most 

 often against the trunk of the tree. The eggs are bluish- 

 white, either plain or with indistinct brownish markings. 

 When their homes are molested, Cooper's Hawks often dash 

 toward the intruder, uttering shrill cries. At other times 

 they are very silent birds. When hunting, they follow a 

 devious path through the woods just over the underbrush or 

 along some creek bottom, ready to pounce upon grouse or 

 any other birds that they may discover. 



GOSHAWKS, large, handsome creatures, are the most 

 destructive of any of our birds of prey. They might be 

 termed sportsmen among birds, for their prey is chiefly of 

 those species that are generally considered as game. They 

 are boreal birds, so the greater part of the year they live 

 north of the United States, but they visit us in greater or 

 less numbers every winter according to the severity of the 

 weather and game conditions farther north. When hungry, 



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