Birds of Prey. 
1 15 
The Sparrow-Hawk. 
Differs from 
the Gos-Hawks 
in being much 
smaller, and in 
having a smaller 
bill and longer 
toes. The adult 
male is rufous 
below, and the female is barred underneath, but has a large tuft of rufous down on 
the flanks. It is found everywhere throughout Europe and Northern Asia, and 
inhabits the wooded districts of Great Britain, but is subject to constant persecution 
at the hands of game-keepers, and many are shot down. There is no doubt that the 
Sparrow-Hawk does considerable damage among the young game-birds during the 
hatching season, but at other times of the year it feeds on mice and rats, and also 
largely on small birds which it captures by surprise. It is an object of detestation to 
the latter, who never fail to mob one of these 
Hawks when it appears in the open. The nest 
is a somewhat bulky structure of sticks and is 
constructed by the birds themselves. The eggs 
are often very handsome, being three or four in 
number, greenish-white with reddish brown or 
chestnut markings, and some beautiful varieties 
are sometimes found with the red blotches col- 
lected near the larger end of the egg. 
In Buzzards the tibia is 
much longer than the tarsus, 
not equal to the latter, as 
in the Harriers and Short- 
They have a stout and power- 
ful foot and have the hinder aspect of the tarsus 
transversely plated, not reticulated. Although 
resembling an Eagle in appearance, the Buzzard 
is always a smaller bird, and is much more 
THE COMMON 
BUZZARD. 
( Buteo buteo.) 
winged Hawks. 
The Common Buzzard. 
nesting are also 
similar to those 
of the European 
bird. 
THE 
SPARROW-HAWK 
{Accipiter nisus) 
8 * 
