Volume 6, Number 14 ( 
New SerleSf Number 92 I 
SATURDAY, JULY 3, 1875 
(Established A. D. 1871, 
l84,aYear,IO cts a Copy 
THE SPARROW HAWK OR AMERICAN 
KESTRIL. 
BY ROBERT RIDGWAY. 
The common Sparrow Hawk is one of tlie most 
widely distributed of the American Falcons, only the 
Peregrine {F. communis anatum) having so extensive 
a range. It is found on every portion of both conti- 
nents (with perhaps the exception of extreme Arctic 
districts) from Alaska, the “ Barren Grounds” of Brit- 
ish America, the Hudson Bay Territory and the coast 
of Labrador, to Tierra del Fuego; while it also occurs 
in nearly all of the islands adjacent to the mainiand. 
Though found in all of the lesser Antilles, it appears to 
be wanting in the islands of Santo'Domingo and Cuba, 
where, however, its place is supplied by two closely 
allied forms. 
The northern range of the Sparrow Hawk is pretty 
well determined through the researches of several 
agents of the Hudson Bay Company, who have been 
valued correspondents of the Smithsonian Institution, 
and generous contributors to the collections and ar- 
chives of the National Museum ; the collectors of the Rus- 
sian Telegraph and Coast Survey Expeditions to Alaska, 
and the intrepid martyr-naturalist, Mr. Robert Kenni- 
cott. The material bearing on our subject has been 
carefully digested in this connection, and furnishes a 
clue to tile northern range of this bird. Upon the in- 
voice sheets of the National Jluseum are recorded, up 
to the present date (June 1. 1875) exactly three hundred 
specimens of this bird. From these records we find 
that it extends f.ir to the northward on the Pacific 
side of the continent, Mr. Ferdinand Bischoff, the col- 
lector of the Russian Telegraph Expedition, having ob- 
tained two examples (Nos. 50,199 and 50,200 Nat. jMus.) 
at Plover Bay, Siberia (!) He also found it at Kodiak, 
on the Alaskan coast, in latitude about 58° North, on 
the 10th of March. Specimens from Washington Ter- 
ritory and Oregon occur frequently in the list, while 
several localities in the interior of Briti-h America are 
represented, among which we may mention Nelson 
River, where it was obtained by Donald Gunn; Fort 
Simpson (Bernard R. Ross), Fort Rae (June, L. Clark), 
Moose Factory (R. McKenzie), Selkirk Settlement and 
Red River of the North (July and August, Donald Gun); 
while the lamented Robert Kennicott obtained it in Sep- 
tember at Fort Resolution, in latitude 62° North. At 
this latter place it was found nesting, as it proba- 
bly does also at every point where it occurs in sum- 
mer. The most northern locality on the Atlantic coast 
recorded on the invoices of the N:Uional Museum 
is Nova Scotia, where it was collected by Mr. .1. G. 
Winton. It probably is very rare in Labrador, and 
other portions of eastern British America, since Dr. 
Coues (See Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy of 
Natural Sciences, August, 1861, p. 216) saw but one in- 
dividual during his stay on the coast of that country. 
In the Gulf of St. Lawrence, ofi the Isle of Cape Breton, 
however, several were seen on the 10th of September 
circling closely around the vessel. Of its distribution 
in the United States, it is unnecessary to remark further 
.than that it is found everywhere in suitable locations. 
The Spai row Hawk is the American representative 
of the Kestril of Europe (Tinnunculus alaudarius), a 
considerably larger but very similar bird. Writers who 
have enjoyed an acquaintance of both species say that 
besides the great similarity in their habits their voice is 
so much alike it is hard to distinguish but for the stronger 
intonation to that of the American bird. The com- 
mon note is quite peculiar and well known, consisting 
of a protracted, not unmusical chatter, dilllcult to de- 
scribe, but when once heard always to be recognized 
afterward. Neglected fields with old dead trees are the 
favorite abode of the Sparrow Hawk, for the lofty 
naked branches are a convenient and commanding 
position ftom which to survey the surroundings, 
while the knot-holes or deserted excavations of the 
larger wood-peckers afl'ord cosy and secure houses for 
their nests. I'pon a lofty branch he ma}' be seen rest- 
ing or patiently “ waiting for something to turnup;” 
sitiing quietly in an uiiright position, sometimes per- 
fectly still, for an hour or more. Sliould a thoughtless 
mouse steal incautiously from his nest for a little ramble 
the quick eye ot its watchful enemj’' detects it. He first 
dives from his perch and Hies directly over the ob- 
ject in view. Should the latter be quiet for a while 
the hawk hovers directly over it, its fan-like tail widely 
expanded and its head lowered, waiting for a favorable 
opportunity to descend upon its intended victim. But 
the mouse is usually rather restless, running first to one 
point, then, after a short halt, zig-zagging off to another. 
The hawk, however, follow's every movement, shooting 
rapidly off and hovering temporarily exactly to corres- 
pond with the movements of ti e unsuspecting mouse. 
When thus engaged it is sure to attract attention, and 
this characteristic of the species is doubtless familiar 
to sportsmen as well as all people used to country 
scenes. Wuen it alights, the Spairow Hawk plunges 
upon the branch, closes its wing with a nervous snap, 
and tilts its expanded tail up and down, at the same time 
turning its head watchfully from side to side. 
The food of the Sparrow Hawk consists chiefly 
of insects and the smaller terrestrial mammals, but 
we have had abundant opportunities to observe evi- 
dence that it is occasionally of a very predacious na- 
ture. We remember well an incident of our boyhood 
days, when, w'hile engaged at play with a comrade, our 
attention was attracted to a desperate race between one 
of these little falcons and a Chimney Swift {Chaiura pela- 
gica). The chase had apparently been continued for 
some time, as the hawk was rapidly gaining ground, 
and, probably more from fright than exhaustion, the 
swift showed unmistakable signs of not being able to 
much longer evade its pursuer. They' soon came very 
near us, when the swift dropped suddenly to the 
ground, falling behind a plank which resting on its 
edge leaned against the house. This action nonplussed 
the hawk, which swerved to one side and alighted upon 
the fence across the yard. The little fellow was evi- 
dently very' hungry, for, unmindful of our presence, he 
immediately began a survey of a brood of young chicks 
which, attended by their mother, were running about 
the yard. We plainly saw by the way in which he ad- 
mired them — leaning interested ly forward, his expanded 
tail tipping up and down, his head cocked to one side, 
and his bright black eye snapping — that he was intent on 
mischief, so after being fora while spellbound by' the 
boldness of his demeanor and the gracefulness of his 
actions, we frightened him away'. In the meantime we 
had forgotten the poor swift, but running up to the 
plank and turning it over, there croucUed the poor 
frightened bird, with head uplifted in supplication, ey’es 
liquid with tears and its frame in a tremor of fear. It 
willingly allowed itself to bn taRen in our hand as if con- 
fident of protection, and when .shortly released llcw 
rapidly away, thanking us for his freedom with a joy- 
ous chippering as he left. Upon another occasion, we 
saw one chase a goldfinch {Chrysomittis tristis) for some 
minutes, and finally give it up in disgust; for the quick 
zig-zags of the finch’s flight puzzled him. The appear- 
ance of one of these little falcons near the suburbs of a 
town or about the farm is certain to bring an attack from 
the Purple Martins (Prey «« subis) of the neighborhood; 
and numbers of these birds combined force him to beat 
a hasty retreat. We have, however, seen him when too 
hotly pressed on such occasions suddenly turn and cause 
great consternation among his pursuers. Dr. Brewer 
records (see Hist . N. Am. Birds, vol. III. , page 175) 
that “at Deny'sville, Maine, these Hawks were observed 
to attack the cliff swallows, while sitting on their eggs, 
deliberately tearing open their covered nests, and seiz- 
ing their occupants for their prey'.” But now and then, 
the tables are turned on the brave little rascal and it is 
he who comes to grief ; for we once found the remains of 
one in the nest of the large Buteo swainsoni along with 
the bones of ground squirrels and sage hares. 
In wooded portions of the country the Sparrow 
Hawk usually builds its nest in the hollow of a tree, 
and even in the barren or nearly treele.ss portions 
of the West it avails itself of such accommodations 
when they are to be found. At a certain place along 
the Carson River stood, in 1868, aclnmp of several large 
cottonwood trees, the only' ones for miles around; each 
of these was inhabited by a pair of these birds who had 
nests in the hollows of the limbs. But where there are 
no trees to accommodate them, they nest in other 
places. In the precipitous canons of the Ruby Moun- 
tains in eastern Nevada, they nested in the crevices of 
the limestone cliffs, in company with the Prairie Falcon 
{F. polyagrus) the Cliff and Violet-green Sw'allows {Pe 
irochelidon Innifrons and Taehycineta thalassina) and the 
Rock Swift {Panyptila saxafilis.) In Echo Canon, along 
the line of the Union Pacific Railroad, these Hawks 
were noticed swarming in hundreds about the cliffs, in 
August, 1868; and in many portions of Utah they’ took 
possession of the holes dug in the earthy' banks by the 
King-fisher (C'ei’yfe afryon) and Red-shafted Flicker (Cof- 
aptes mexicanus.) According to Dr. Brewer, Dr. Woods 
of East Hartford, Conn., knew’ of a pair W’hich entered 
a dove-cote in that place, destroyed the doves and laid 
four eggs. They made themselves at home, but co»i- 
mitted 90 many depredations that t'ley were shot. In- 
stances have been known where this hawk deposited its 
eggs in a deserted crow’s nest; but it is seldom that they 
expose them in this manner. Thera is usually no nest, 
but the eggs are laid upon the rubbish at the bottom of 
the hole. 
The eggs are generally five in number, but range froa 
three to seven, the latter number, how’ever, being but 
seldom found in one nest. In shape they are nearly 
spherical, but little difference in size and contour being 
observable in the tw'o ends; their length ranges from 
1.32 to 1.48 inche.s, the average being about 1.38, and 
in breadth they measure from l.OS to 1.20 inches, with 
an average diameter of 1.13, The ground color of the 
eggs varies from white to a rather deep buff or cream 
color, which is relieved by a greater or less amount of 
brown and reddish spotting; the spots are nearly' alway’s 
small, and usually rather scattered, but sometimes they 
are thickly’ sprinkled over the entire surface; the mark- 
ings are generally of several sliades cf rusty brown, but 
the tint varies from umber to reddish chestnut. 
The Sparrow Hawk may be at once distingui.shedupon 
examination from the only other small Falcon of the 
United States — the Pigeon Hawk or American Merlin 
[Falco cohimharius ,) — by' the subgeneric characters. In 
the first place, it is to be borne in mind that the distinc- 
tion between the Falcons and Hawks is founded upon a 
real and not imaginary difference- in fact they form two 
very strongly-marked subfamilies. Every species of 
Falcon has a very strongly toothed and notched bill, a 
small round nostril with a central bony knob or tuber- 
cle, legs destitute of large regular scales, and only one 
or two of the quill feathers with their inner webs nar- 
rowed toward the end; the hawks, on the other hand 
have an ova'., oblique open nostril without the bony' 
central point, lack strong teeth and notches to the bill, 
have usually three to five quills narrow’cd beyond the 
middle portion, and generally' have large scales in con- 
tinuous rows on the front and back part of the leg. 
These are the main external differences, which will 
(Concluded on page 220 ) 
