FALCONS 141 



Tennessee River, at Florence. He believes they nested there 

 in 1892, but since that date none have been seen. 



At Fort Deposit, Marshall County, on the Tennessee River, 

 I saw two duck hawks, June 18, 1913, and was informed by 

 a resident of the locality that the birds had nested for many 

 years in the high cliffs along the river. One of the birds 

 observed was flying over the river, the other was flushed at 

 dusk from the face of the cliff. 



General habits. — This splendid falcon has been greatly re- 

 duced in numbers during recent years, especially in thickly 

 settled regions. It lives chiefly near large bodies of water, 

 where its favorite food of ducks is easily procured, but in 

 winter it sometimes takes up its abode in cities, where it preys 

 upon tame pigeons. Its flight is exceedingly swift and it has 

 no difficulty in overtaking and striking down any bird up 

 to the size of a duck. 



The nest is placed usually on a ledge of a cliff or, rarely, in 

 cavities in tall trees. 



Food habits. — The duck hawk preys almost exclusively on 

 birds, chiefly waterfowl and shorebirds. Small land birds are 

 occasionally eaten as also are domestic fowls and pigeons 

 whenever opportunity offers. This falcon is very destructive, 

 but it is now so rare in the East as to be of little economic 

 importance. It is to be hoped that the few birds now remain- 

 ing in the State may be saved from extermination. 



PIGEON HAWK: Tinnunculus columbarius columharius 



(Linnaeus) .* 



State records. — The pigeon hawk occurs as a rather uncom- 

 mon migrant and winter visitant from September to March. 

 Dr. Avery observed the species at Greensboro on three oc- 

 casions — in 1889; October 6, 1891; and December 22, 1893. 

 Gutsell took a single specimen on the shore of Perdido Bay, 

 September 21, 1911. I observed single individuals near Mont- 

 gomery, December 11, 1915; Autaugaville, December 14, 1915,. 

 and November 21, 1916; and Dothan, November 26, 1916.. 



•Falco columbarius of the A. O. U. Check-list ; for change of name see The Auk, vol. 

 35, p. 207, 1918, 



