298 
PIGEON HAWK. 
Adult female. Quite similar to the male in general coloration but overwashed above, to a greater or less extent, with 
brown, and tbe markings below are broader and the tints darker. 
Young. Differs from the adult female in having but little ashy above. The wings are barred on the inner webs with 
reddish-white and there is a line of the same color extending over the eye. The tail is dark-brown, tipped with white, and 
barred with reddish. 
Young of the year. Show no traces of ashy above, and the top of the head is overwashed with reddish, especially on . 
the forehead and occiput. The inner webs of the wings are barred with deep red and spotted on the outer with it, while 
the markings below are a little broader. 
Nestlings. Are at first covered with a yellowish down, then gradually assume the plumage last described. Bill, black, 
blue at base, cere and feet, yellow, iris brown, in all stages. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
There is some variation in specimens of the same age, especially below, where the brown markings occasionally broad¬ 
en out into transverse bands on the sides. The under tail coverts are sometimes immaculate. Known from sparverius by 
the superior size and absence of any cinnamon-red, and from communis by the inferior size, absence of any dark markings 
on the sides of the head, and in having the two outer quills incised on the inner webs. Distributed, as a summer resident, 
throughout North America, north of latitude 42°, and in winter, south of this point, into South America and the West 
Indies. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of male specimens from Eastern United States. Length, 11-50; stretch, 23-75; wing, 7'75; tail, 
5-15; bill, '55; tarsus, 1'40. Longest specimen, 12-00; greatest extent of wing, 24 - 00; longest wing, 8 00;' tail, 5 25; bill, 
'DO; tarsus,, 1'50. Shortest specimen, ll’OO; smallest extent of wing, 23'25; shortest wing, 7'50; tail, 5-10; bill, '50; tarsus, 
1-30. 
Average measurements of female specimens from Eastern United States. Length, 12-00; stretch, 25 - 25; wing, 8-25; 
tail, 5'50; bill, '70; tarsus, 145. Longest specimen, 12 50; greatest extent of wing, 26-50; longest wing, 8 - 50; tail, 5-70; 
bill, -80; tarsus, 155. Shortest specimen, 11'25; smallest extent of wing, 24-00; shortest wing, 8 - 00; tail, 5‘10; bill, - 60; 
tarsus, D35. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed on rocky cliffs, on the branches, or in holes, of trees. They are composed of sticks and grass, lined with 
feathers. 
Eggs , four to six in number, rather oval or spherical in form, varying from whitish to deep reddish-brown in color, 
spotted, dotted, and blotched, irregularly, and usually very thickly, with reddish-brown of varying shades. Dimensions 
from 1-25x l - 75 to l - 30xl-80. 
HABITS. 
The Pigeon Hawks may be met with almost anywhere in New England during the au¬ 
tumnal migrations which occur in September and October. Not that they are particularly 
abundant then but their appearance is not uncommon, and they may often be seen dashing 
through the woodlands, coursing over the meadows, or hunting along the shore. When on 
the wing in search of prey, they are full of energy, but Falcon like, when satiated, will 
sit for hours silent and apathetic, regardless of the multitudinous avian life that is con¬ 
stantly sweeping by them within easy reach. What a lesson is here presented to the 
sportsman who destroys until he is weary, often leaving his victims to decay where they 
fall! 
As the Pigeon Hawks usually spend the greater portion of their time in sections re¬ 
mote from man, or rather, in sections where every urchin is not armed with a cheap breech¬ 
loader, they are not very shy when passing us and, in the unsettled portions of the South, 
they are very tame; thus I found two or three pairs on the northen end of Key West, where 
there are no houses, that were so unsuspicous that I walked within twenty-five feet of them 
before they attempted to fly. 
