140 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
Falco sparverius Linn. 
American Sparrow Hawk. 
Description {Plate 16; Fig. female; Fig.S^ male). 
This common little falcon can easily be recognized by comparison with figures on 
plate. 
Length 10 to 12 inches ; extent of wings 18 to 23 inches. 
Habitat . — Whole of North America, south to northern South America. 
This well-known little hawk is the smallest and most beautiful of the 
family Falconidce. It is a resident, but is more numerous during fall 
and winter than at other seasons. Unlike other of our native hawks, it 
sometimes rears two broods in a season. The Sparrow Hawk builds no 
nest, but deposits her eggs — numbering from five to seven, rarely the 
latter number — in hollow trees, selecting usually the deserted hole of a 
woodpecker. The eggs, nearly spherical, measure about 1.33 by 1.13 
inches, and are of a whitish or pale yellow brown color, blotched all over 
with dark brown. Oviposition occurs in April. Occasionally, if the 
eggs are taken, the bird will a second time deposit eggs in the same 
nest. Wlien the young or eggs are disturbed the parent birds will 
sometimes defend invasion of their domicile with great temerity. Some 
few years ago I was endeavoring to secure the young from a nest of this 
species. I had climbed the tree to the aperture, about thirty -five feet 
from the ground, wherein were snugly packed five young, one of which 
I removed, when both old birds assailed me. They several times struck 
my head and arms with their talons and wings. So persistent were 
their attacks that I, desiring to obtain the young alive, directed a com- 
panion, who stood near by, to shoot both birds. I have repeatedly 
taken the eggs and young of this species, but never, only in the above- 
cited instance, encountered such determined opposition. When reared 
from the nest, this species will soon become attached to its master. I 
raised two, which were given their freedom. Both birds would come at 
my call and alight on my outstretched arm or shoulders, anxiously waiting 
for a grasshopper or piece of meat, which was always their recompense. 
This hawk will resort for several consecutive years to the same tree for 
breeding purposes. From Doctor Wood’s ''Birds of Connecticut f the 
following remarks, with regard to the nesting of this bird, are taken • 
“ One of my collectors found a nest of fom* eggs in the top of a stump, 
about ten feet from the ground. This nest was composed of grass, and 
was discovered by the grass protruding through a crack in the stump. 
Whether this hawk constructed this nest, or whether it had been made 
by some other bird, it is impossible to tell ; but if this hawk constructs 
no nest, as asserted by Doctor Brewer and others, it must have obtained 
it piratically, as the nest was new. In another instance, which occurred 
in Granby, Connecticut, the nest was known to have been obtained in 
this way : A farmer made a dove-house inside of his barn, with holes 
