FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 169 
black bands, that of the pigeon hawk being brown, with quarter inch 
whitish bands. 
Distribution. —North America from the Arctic Ocean south in winter to 
the West Indies, and from the southern states to northern South America; 
breeding mainly north of parallel 43°, except in the mountains, where it 
extends farther south. 
Nest. — On ledges of cliffs and sometimes in trees or hollows of trees. 
The cliff nests have little material, the tree nests are bulky, made of 
sticks, grass, or moss, and lined with feathers, inner bark, and other soft 
material. Eggs : 4 or 5, ground color white, usually hidden by blotched 
reddish brown suffusion. 
Food. — Mainly birds and insects; occasionally small mammals. 
‘ ‘ This spirited little hawk is one of the most common birds of prey 
within its northern range. It feeds chiefly upon small birds, but 
often attacks birds much larger than itself. ... It seldom watches 
from a perch, or hovers in the air as it sights its prey, but as a rule 
darts rapidly through the thickets and over the open grounds, giving 
chase to the birds startled in its course. ... In flight, like others 
of the falcon family, it strikes rapidly with its wings, never sailing 
except for a short distance.” (Goss.) 
357a. F. c. suckleyi Ridgw. Black Merlin. 
Adult male. — Upper parts blackish brown, wing coverts and tertials 
slaty, tail coverts bluish slate; tail black, with three slaty whitish bars, 
and tip marked with whitish; throat white streaked with black; rest of 
under parts blackish brown with whitish and tawny markings. Adult 
female and young : under parts heavily marked with dusky; upper parts 
blackish brown, wing coverts and tertials slaty ; tail coverts bluish slate ; 
inner •webs of quills not distinctly spotted or barred ; tail bands, except 
for whitish tip, indistinct or obsolete. Male: wing 8, tail 4.90, tarsus 
1.40, bill .70. Female: wing 8.25-8.50, tail 5.70-5.80, bill .55-60. 
Distribution. — Northwest coast from northern California to Sitka. 
Singularly enough the adult male black merlin had never been 
described till Mrs. Fannie Hardy Eckstorm published a description 
in The Auk, October, 1902, from a bird given Mr. Manly Hardy by 
Major Bendire, who shot it at Fort Klamath, Oregon. 
The hawk is by no means as rare as this oversight would indicate. 
Mr. Rathbun has even seen one in Seattle, near the business part of 
the city, and noted the bird a number of times along Lake Washington. 
358. Faleo richardsonii Ridgw. Richardson Merlin. 
Coloration much like that of the pigeon hawk, but averaging lighter; 
middle tail feathers crossed by 5 dark and 6 light bands. 
Distribution. — Interior and western plains of North America, from the 
Mississippi to the Pacific ; breeding from Saskatchewan south to Colorado; 
wintering in Texas, Arizona, and probably Mexico. 
Nest, eggs, and food as in F. columbarius, p. 168. 
Male: wing 7.70-8.05, tail 4.90-5.30, bill .50-.60. Female: length 
12.00-13.50, wing 8.80-9.10, tail 5.70-6.30, bill .55-.60. 
The habits of the Richardson merlin so far as known are the same 
as those of the pigeon hawk. 
