BIRDS OF PREY 



(357) Falco columbarius col= 

 umbarius Linn. 



(Lat., a pigeon-fancier). 



PIGEON HAWK. ,4rfi.— Plum- 

 age as shown; the 9 larger and 

 darker colored than the a' ; upper 

 parts bluish-slate, with black shaft 

 lines; tail with four black bands, 

 the terminal one very broad. Im. — 

 Similar as to markings, but the upper 

 parts and tail are brownish-black, 

 the latter crossed . by four light 

 bands, L., 12.00; Ex., 2.400; W., 

 8.00; T., S-5o; Tar., 1.35. Eggs — 

 Buffy, heavily blotched with brown, 

 1.50 X 1.20. Nest in trees, cavities 

 or on ledges; a frail structure of 

 twigs, when in trees or on the ground; 

 no lining when nesting in cavities. 



Range — Breeds from Me., Mich., 

 and Ore. northward. Winters froni 

 southern U. S. southward. 



^TX'V*JliS^ 



were excellently adapted to the purpose, for they are power- 

 ful and daring far beyond their size. Even in ordinary 

 flight, the movement of their wings is very rapid, but when 

 they stoop in a sudden burst of speed to attack their quarry 

 probably their swiftness excels that of any other species. 



They are usually to be found in the vicinity of waters, 

 since they have a preference for water fowls. They habit- 

 ually attack birds larger than themselves, striking with a 

 force and energy that ustially kills the quarry at the impact 

 of the strong talons. The unusual size of their feet enables 

 thera to do great execution among large ducks or gulls. 



If the nature of the country allows, they choose ledges 

 or cliffs for their nesting sites; in the north they always do 

 so, but in some parts of the United States they resort to 

 cavities in trees. Little nesting material is used, sometimes 

 not even a lining, the eggs being on bare rock. The eggs are 

 so minutely dotted that the ground color appears to be a 

 light rufous-buff, and the surface is irregularly blotched with 

 darker shades of the same. 



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