The Pigeon Hawks 



portions otherwise; heavily 

 umber-streaked lower parts; 

 tail crossed by four whitish 

 bars, as compared with F. c. 

 richardsoni, darker; lighter 

 and more extensively spotted 

 than F. c. suckleyi. 



Nesting. — Not cer- 

 tainly known to breed in 

 California. Nest: In hollow 

 limbs of trees or in crannies 

 about cliffs. Eggs: 4 or 5; 

 pinkish white, spotted and 

 blotched with reddish brown 

 or chocolate, or else cinna- 

 mon-buff, sprinkled and dot- 

 ted with heavier shades of 

 the same color. Av. size 38.1 

 x 30.5 (1.50 x 1.20). Season: 

 c. May 1st; one brood. 



Range of Falco colum- 

 barius. — Northern North 

 America; in winter south to 

 northern South America. 



Range of F. c. colum- 

 barius. — Breeds from north- 

 western Alaska and Macken- 

 zie, south in the mountains 

 to Colorado and (probably) 

 California, and from central 

 Keewatin, northern Ungava, 

 and Newfoundland, south to 

 Maine and the northern pen- 

 insula of Michigan. Winters 

 from California and the Gulf 

 States through middle Amer- 

 ica to Venezuela and Ecua- 

 dor. 



Distribution in Cali- 

 fornia. — Rare summer resident in the mountains (Mammoth Lakes, June 26, 1919, 

 June, 1921), undoubtedly a breeder but eggs have never been reported. Common 

 winter resident and migrant, chiefly west of the Sierras. 



Authorities. — Gambel (Falco columbarius) , Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., vol. 

 iii., 1846, p. 46 (upper California); Cones, Birds of the Northwest, 1874, p. 345 (syn., 

 desc, discussion of eggs, etc.); Fisher, Hawks and Owls of the U. S., 1893, p. 109, pi. 

 16 (food) ; Grinnell, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. II, 191 5, p. 68 (status in Calif.); Howell, 

 Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 12, 191 7, p. 57 (s. Calif, ids.). 



THE PIGEON HAWK is preeminently a collector's bird. Reports 

 of occurrence are a cherished tradition with the fraternity, but positive 



1631 



(MC+-i>- /Jrc 



PIGEON HAWKS 



