SPARROW HAWK. 115 



Its food, probably like that of the Pigeon Hawk, consists largely of 

 small birds, insects, and mammals, though little is known positively in 

 reference to it. 



Its flight is light and easy. While hunting for food it often hovers 

 over certain spots after the manner of the Sparrow Hawk, and when 

 alighting it generally chooses the bare ground to rest on. Some ob- 

 servers report the bird as being very shy, while others state it is quite 

 tame and unsuspicious. 



The nesting site is as variable as the surroundings will allow; some- 

 times the structure is placed in a yucca or cactus 10 or 15 feet from 

 the ground ; while at other times it may be found in a mesquit or other 

 bush a few feet above the surface of the plain. The nest is com- 

 posed of small twigs and plant stalks and usually has a lining of grass. 

 When the abandoned nests of other birds are available, they are used. 

 The eggs, which are generally three in number, are deposited at any 

 time between the first of April and the middle of May, according to the 

 inclination of the bird. Captain Bendire mentions three young which 

 were found in southern Arizona on April 25, and sets of eggs have been 

 found as late as the middle of June, which shows how variable is the 

 time of nesting. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Wing more than 9 inches (228 mm.). Above, plain bluish gray; tail 

 darker toward end, tipped with white, and crossed by about eight 

 narrow bands of the same; broad stripes behind eye; chin, throat, and 

 chest, white; the stripe back of the eye changing to orange-rufous on 

 back of head where the two of opposite sides unite. Sides and flanks 

 slaty blackish, narrowly barred with white. 



Length: 15 to 18 inches (380 to 457 mm ) ; wing, 9.25 to 11.50 inches 

 (234 to 291 mm ); tail, 6.25 to 8.75 inches (159 to 222 mm ). 



SPARROW HAWK. 



Falco sparverius. 



[Plate 17 — Adult male and female.] 



The Sparrow Hawk is probably the best known as well as the 

 smallest and one of the handsomest of American Hawks. It ranges 

 over the entire continent of temperate North America, breeding in 

 suitable localities from Maine to California, and from the fur countries 

 southward into Mexico. Its nest has been taken as far north as 

 Fort Eesolution (latitude 62°), on Great Slave Lake, which probably 

 is near the most northern limit of its distribution. It is reported 

 as rare in most parts of New England,, though there are certain sec- 

 tions where it is fairly common. In the mountains of the west and in 

 most parts of the south it is abundant, and at certain times of the 



