BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
139 
the depredator. They occasionally feed on dead fish that have floated 
to the shores or sand-bars.”— Audubon. 
I have examined but three of these hawks; the stomachs of two were 
destitute of food materials, the other contained a few feathers of a do¬ 
mestic pigeon. 
Falco columbarius Linn. 
Pigeon Hawk. 
Description (Plate 85 ). 
Adult Male .—Entire upper parts bluish-slate color, every feather with a black 
longitudinal line ; forehead and throat white ; other under parts pale yellowish or 
reddish-white ; every feather with a longitudinal line of brownish-black ; tibiae light 
ferruginous, with lines of black ; quills black, tipped with ashy-white; tail light 
bluish-ashy, tipped with a white and with a wide subterminal band of black, and 
with several other transverse narrower bands of black ; inner webs nearly white; 
cere and legs yellow ; bill blue ; iris brown. 
Younger .—Entire upper plumage dusky-brown, quite light in some specimens, 
and with a tinge of ashy; head above, with narrow stripes of dark brown and fer¬ 
ruginous, and in some specimens many irregular spots and edgings of the latter 
color on the other upper parts ; forehead and entire under parts dull-white, the latter 
with longitudinal stripes of light-brown ; sides and flanks light-brown, with pairs 
of circular spots of white ; tibiae dull white, with dashes of brown ; tail pale brown, 
with about six transverse bands of white ; cere and legs greenish-yellow. 
Young .—Upper plumage brownish-black, white of the forehead and under parts 
more deeply tinged with reddish yellow; dark stripes wider than in preceding; 
sides and flanks with wide transverse bands of brownish-black, and with circular 
spots of yellowish-white ; quills black ; tail brownish-black, tipped with white, and 
with about four bands of white ; cere and feet greenish yellow. 
Total length, female 12 to 14 inches ; wing 8 to 9 inches ; tail 5 to inches. Male, 
total length, 10 to 11 inches ; wing 71, to 8 inches ; tail 5 inches.— Baird's B. B. N. A. 
Habitat .—The whole of North America, south to the West Indies and northern 
South America. 
This little falcon, a native of northern latitudes, occurs in Pennsylva¬ 
nia as a rather rare and irregular visitor during the late fall, winter and 
early spring months. AVhen found here the Pigeon Hawk is usually 
seen singly, sometimes a pair are observed together searching food. 
The species appears to be oftener met with in the mountainous and 
wooded districts than elsewhere in the state. In the few examinations 
which I have mode of these hawks, only the remains of birds—common 
pigeons and sparrows—have been detected. Prom my observations in 
the field, as well as dissections, I believe the Pigeon Hawk during its 
residence in this locality preys mainly on various small birds. The 
following is taken from my note-book in relation to a pair of these 
hawks: “Two Pigeon Hawks during the late fall lurked about the 
southern suburbs of the borough of West Chester, preying at regular 
intervals on the pigeons of a blacksmith. In one week the hawks killed 
or drove away fifty of these birds. The hawks would enter the boxes 
and take from them the pigeons.” 
