flutter over one spot for a minute at a time, and then pass on disappointed, or else 

 pounce suddenly upon its prey and bear it off to some elevated perch for quiet 

 consumption. When the wind is blowing strong the bird no longer flutters at its 

 critical stops, but only balances on the wind, so nicely, indeed, that its wings are 

 almost motionless. 



The Sparrow Hawk is the smallest of the North American Hawks, and is 

 also our most beautiful species, as well as being one of the most beneficial. Its 

 name is singularly inappropriate, as it no way resembles a sparrow in form 

 or habits, nor does it eat them to any serious extent. If it could be renamed at 

 the present time, it might very properly be called the Grasshopper Hawk, because 

 it destroys such enormous quantities of these destructive insects. The only 

 species that the Sparrow Hawk can be confused with is the Pigeon Hawk or the 

 Sharp-shinned Hawk. While it is always somewhat difficult to recognize some 

 birds while flying or even while at rest, yet it may be done by a careful observer, 

 and it should be done in the case of the Sparrow Hawk because of its great worth 

 and entire lack of harmful qualities. 



The large amount of chestnut color on the back and tail of both sexes of the 

 Sparrow Hawk is a strong distinguishing mark, the Pigeon Hawk and Sharp- 

 shinned Hawk being much darker. Below the Sparrow Hawk presents a much 

 lighter effect than the two other species, which are heavily barred or streaked 

 underneath. The length of the wings is another very marked point of difference 

 in the Sparrow Hawks. W^hen the Sparrow Hawk is perched with wings folded 

 they reach nearly to the end of the tail, while the wings of the Sharp-shinned 

 Hawk fall far short of it. The flight of these small hawks differs quite mate- 

 rially, the Sparrow Hawk being much given to hovering in the open, when it 

 W'ill drop to the ground with a not very rapid motion and seize its humble game 

 of a grasshopper and fly back to a perch and eat it. 



The Pigeon Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk make a few rapid wing-strokes 

 and then sail for some distance. The Sparrow Hawk hunts and perches in open 

 places while the Sharp-shinned Hawk confines itself to the woods and thickets, 

 perching in a tree where it may be hidden. The note of the Sparrow Hawk when 

 once heard will always serve to distinguish this species from the two others with 

 which it may be confounded. Another very excellent means of identification of 

 the Sparrow Hawk, if seen at or near its resting site, is the location of the nest ; 

 if it is in a hole of any kind it is almost sure to belong to a Sparrow Hawk, while 

 if it is a nest built of sticks and other material in the branches of a tree it is 

 equally sure to be the nest of a Pigeon or Sharp-shinned Hawk. As the Pigeon 

 Hawk is not often found breeding within the limits of the United States the tree 

 nest, if found south of the Canadian border, will very likely be that of the Sharp- 

 shinned Hawk. 



These several distinguishing marks are given with the earnest hope that 

 farmers, sportsmen and others who in the past have killed all Hawks, will in the 

 future spare the Sparrow Hawk, owing to its great value to agriculture. When 



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