20 GAME BIEVS OF CALIFOBNIA 



given predator on game. But that such a concltision is the correct 

 one can be decided only after careful and far-reaching study of the 

 problem. We would urge extreme caution in declaring sweeping 

 destruction of supposed enemies of game birds, except in the few well 

 established cases. It is hoped that the following comments on some 

 of the enemies of game in California may be of help to those who wish 

 to distinguish foe from friend. 



Three typical bird-destroying hawks are unprotected by law in this 

 state. All three of them prey systematically upon game and insecti- 

 vorous birds. The best known of these hawks, and apparently the 

 most destructive, because of its habit of feeding upon Valley Quail, 

 as well as poultry, is the Cooper Hawk, or "bullet hawk," as it is 

 commonly called. This bird has a dark-barred tail as long or longer 

 than its body, and in silhouette against the sky, in flight, the wings 

 show bluntly rounded at the ends, and the tail also is rounded rather 

 than squarish at the end. The bird flies with a quick darting flight 

 and usually perches in some nearby tree, or flies along through the 

 trees, suddenly darting down and carrying off its prey with lightning 

 speed. It does not as a rule soar about in plain sight overhead. This 

 is the real ' ' chicken hawk, ' ' and should be carefully distinguished from 

 the larger Eed-tailed Hawk. The latter species sails about high in the 

 air like a buzzard, but its food consists almost entirely of ground 

 squirrels. In the hand these two birds can readily be distinguished 

 by a comparison of their feet. The Cooper Hawk has very slender 

 legs and feet, whereas the Western Red-tailed Hawk has very heavy 

 legs and feet. 



A near relative of the Cooper Hawk, called the Sharp-shinned 

 Hawk, is closely similar to it. The main points of difference are the 

 much smaller size of the Sharp-shinned, and its square-ended rather 

 than rounded tail. In flight as well as in habits the Sharp-shinned is 

 practically a small edition of the Cooper Hawk. It is to be seen beat- 

 ing along over the brush and trees, especially along streams, and not 

 infrequently alights on the limbs of trees beneath concealing foliage. 

 In these situations the Sharp-shinned Hawk preys upon small birds 

 of every kind and will not infrequently help itself to young game birds 

 and to chicks in the barnyard. 



The Duck Hawk, a true falcon, is the most powerful of the three 

 species unprotected by law and is able to attack birds even as large as 

 ducks. This hawk is said to kill more birds than it can eat, apparently 

 killing for the pleasure it flnds in the sport. The Duck Hawk is not 

 now very common and is found chiefly about marshes and along the 

 sea coast where it preys upon water birds. Fairly large size,'sharply 

 pointed wings, a slaty back, and black patches on the face help in 

 identification. At Santa Cruz Island in November, 1907, Linton 



