The Sharp-shinned Hawk 



or merely touched with rufous. Iris, cere, and feet yellow; bill and claws blackish. 

 Females are perhaps less blue above, and duller or paler below. Immature: Above 

 dusky brown margined with rufous (heavily on fore-crown and cervix, lightly or not 

 at all elsewhere), concealed white cropping out in streaks on forehead and hind-neck, 

 and in spots on scapulars, etc.; below streaked and spotted instead of barred with 

 pale brown or cinnamon, with dusky shaft-lines, narrowly on cheeks and throat, more 

 broadly on breast and sides, — markings pandurate on sides of breast, cordate, tear- 

 shaped, or various, below, sometimes transverse on flanks and shanks. Between this 

 and the typical adult plumage every gradation exists. Rather variable in size, — 

 adult male: length 254-304.8 (10.00-12.00); wing 167.6 (6.60); tail 152.4 (6.00); bill 

 from nostril 10.2 (.40). Adult female: length 317.5-362 (12.50-14.25); wing 203.2 

 (8.00); tail 184.2 (7.25). 



Recognition Marks. — Little hawk size; adult transversely barred, young 

 heavily streaked below, often giving the impression of a red-breasted bird; barring of 

 under wing surface conspicuous in flight; the distinction between the breast pat- 

 terns of adults and young must be borne clearly in mind to avoid confusion. Like next 

 species, but considerably smaller, although female Sharpshins are as large as small 

 male Coopers; tail not rounded. 



Nesting. — Nest: Of sticks, twigs and dried leaves; in trees at any height, 

 or in hollow trees and cliff crannies; sometimes old nest of magpie or crow is used. 

 Eggs: 4 or 5; bluish-, greenish-, or grayish-white, lightly or heavily spotted, blotched, 

 marbled, or clouded with rich rufous (carob-brown). Av. size 37 x 30 (1.45 x 1.18). 

 Season: May; one brood. 



General Range. — North America. Breeds practically throughout the United 

 States and north to Keewatin and northwestern Alaska. Winters from the central 

 states and British Columbia south to Panama. 



Distribution in California. — Common winter resident practically throughout 

 the State below Boreal zone. Not common summer resident in Transition zone 

 coastwise, at least as far as Monterey County and in the mountains to the San Jacintos 

 (Tahquitz Valley, June 7, 1913). 



Authorities. — Gambel {Astur fuscus), Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., vol. iii., 

 1846, p. 46; Fisher, Hawks and Owls of the U. S., 1893, p. 32, pi. 4 (food); Miller, 

 Univ. Calif. Publ. Geol., vol. vii., 1912, p. 73 (fossil); Willett, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 

 7, 1912, p. 46 (s. Calif, occurrence; San Bernardino Mts. ; breeding); Tyler, Pac. Coast 

 Avifauna, no. 9, 1913, p. 40 (San Joaquin Valley; habits); Rust, Condor, vol. xvi., 

 1914, p. 14, figs. (desc. and photos of nest, eggs and young; habits, etc.; Idaho). 



MILLENNIUMS of agonized terror voice themselves afresh in the 

 pitiful cries which break out among the lesser fowl, especially the Linnets 

 and the Bush-Tits, whenever the Sharp-shin is astir. Many birds dive 

 instantly for cover, but members of these two species, whose sole depend- 

 ence seems to be in numbers, are thrown into a helpless panic. A wave 

 of vocal despair sweeps the woodland, and each individual is seen to be 

 fluttering abjectly while it utters those chittering distress notes. Not the 

 devil himself, appearing suddenly in a congregation of worshippers, could 

 occasion such consternation as comes to the little feathered folk cringing 

 before the expected blow. The blow must fall and some one must die. 



1658 



