SPARROW HAWK 85 



SPARROW HAWK 



"Wild as a Hawk" is a common and highly 

 expressive phrase. It is not to be wondered at 

 that this group of swift, beautiful, and valuable 

 birds should live in terror of the approach of 

 man; for is not every man's hand against them? 

 In spite of the fact that only two of our common 

 Hawks habitually prey upon poultry, every hawk 

 is in popular speech a "Chicken Hawk" and so 

 to be killed on sight. It is strange that the 

 scavenger value of the related family of Vultures 

 should be so widely recognized and these birds 

 generally protected, while the no less useful work 

 of the Hawks in keeping down meadow mice, 

 grasshoppers, and other mischievous pests is 

 passed without appreciation. 



Smallest of Falcons is the pretty Sparrow 

 Hawk, scarcely larger than a robin. Its name 

 belies its usual occupation to some extent, for 

 while its appearance strikes terror to the hearts 

 of small birds and sends them into hiding, an 

 examination of the stomachs of many of these 

 little Hawks gave a result of far more fur than 

 feathers — indicating a decided preference for 

 field-mice. A great many of the larger kinds of 

 insects are also eaten. 



The Sparrow Hawk nests on cliffs or in trees, 

 but seldom builds for itself, preferring to lay 



