538 
SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS — RAP TORES— ACCIPITRES. 
509. 
510. 
Fig. 378. — Sparrow Hawk, nat 
size. (Ad nat. del. E. C.) 
contrary to the rule in this family. Tail rounded, at least f as long as the wing, usually 
more. Wings pointed by 2d and 3d quills ; 1st about equal to 4th ; 1st and 2d emarginate 
on inner webs near the end ; 2d and 3d sinuate on outer webs. Tarsus feathered but a little 
way down in front, decidedly longer than middle toe without claw, usually surpassing middle 
toe and claw. Young differing less than usual from adults of their respective sexes. Adults : 
Crown ashy-blue, with a chestnut patch, sometimes small or altogether wanting, sometimes 
occupying nearly all the crown. Conspicuous black maxil- 
lary and auricular patches which, with three others around 
the nape, make seven places in all, usually evident, but some 
of them often obscure or wanting. Back cinnamon-rufous, 
or chestnut, like the crown-patch, in the $ with a few black 
spots or none, in the 9 with numerous black bars. Wing- 
coverts of the $ fine ashy-blue, like the crown, with or 
without black spots; of the 9 cinnamon-rufous and black- 
barred, like the back. Quill feathers in ^, 9 blackish, 
usually with pale edges and tips, and the inner webs with 
numerous white indentations, or bars continuous along the 
inner webs, leaving the black chiefly in a series of dentations proceeding from the shafts ; 
ends of secondaries usually also slaty-blue like the coverts. Tail bright chestnut, in the $ 
with white tip, broad black subtermiiial zone, and outer feathers mostly white with several 
black bars, in the 9 the whole tail with numerous imperfect black bars. Under parts white, 
variously tinged with buff or tawny, in the $ witli a few black spots or none, in the 9 with 
many dark brown streaks ; throat and vent usually immaculate. Bill dark horn ; cere and 
feet yellow or orange. Length, either sex, 10.00-11.00 ; extent 20.00-23.00 ; wing 6.50- 
8.00; tail 4.50-6.00; tarsus 1.35 ; middle toe without claw 1.00. The young do not require 
to be separately described, as the species is a strongly marked one, and as the young speedily 
acquire recogniza])le sexual characters. They may be distinguished when just from the nest. 
N. Am., everywhere very abundant. Despite its great variation in markings, aside from the 
normal sexual differences, this elegant little falcon will be immediately recognized by the sub- 
generic characters of Tinnwiculus, its small size, and entirely peculiar coloration. Its char- 
acteristic habit is to hover or poise in the air over some object which seems to promise a meal, 
and then pounce down upon the prey. The birds are very active and noisy during the breeding 
season. Tliey build no nest, but lay in the hollows of trees, often deserted woodpeckers' holes, 
or similar nooks in rocks or about buildings. Eggs 5-7, nearly spheroidal, about 1.33 X 
1.12; ground-color usually buffy, or pale yellowish -brown ; blotched all over with dark brown, 
the splashes of which are usually largest and most numerous toward the greater end, at or 
around which they may run into a crown or wreath. Some eggs are pale brown, minutely 
dotted all over with dark brown ; some are white, with pale brown spots ; and a few are whit- 
ish without any markings. 
F. s. isabelli'nus ? (Low Lat. isabellinus, color of a dirty chemise.) Isabel Sparrow 
Hawk. A Middle American form of the last, occurring in the Gulf States, shading directly 
into sparverius proper: ^ without rufous on crown; several lateral tail-feathers variegated, 
and the black zone an inch wide ; black spots on back and sides very sparse ; breast ochra- 
ceous. 9 with the black bars of the upper parts very broad, upon a ferrugineous ground. 
F. sparverioi'des. (Lat. sparverius, and Gr. eiSo?, eidos, likeness.) Cuban Sparrow Hawk. 
Closely related to F. sparverius, and generally similar, but apparently a distinct species. ^ : 
Above, except the tail, entirely dark plumbeous, with a blackish nuchal collar ; primaries 
and edges and subterminal portion of tail-feathers, black. Beneath, deep rufous (like the 
back of sparverius) with a wash of plumbeous across the jugulum ; throat grayish-white. 
Inner webs of primaries slaty, with transverse cloudings of darker. 9 differing from that of 
