170 
FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 
Subgenus Rhynchofalco. 
Tarsus scarcely feathered above, little longer than middle toe without 
claw. 
359. Falco fusco-coBrulescens Vieill. Aplomado Falcon. 
Adults. — Sides of head black, with white central blotch; throat and 
chest white; sides and flanks slaty blackish, narrowly barred with white ; 
upper parts plain bluish gray; wide stripe from eye becoming yellowish 
brown in encircling back of head ; wing more than 9 inches, with one white 
bar; tail tipped with white and crossed by about eight narrow white 
bands. Young: similar to adult but colors duller, the upper parts less 
bluish, white of breast buffy, more or less marked with dusky, belly and 
thighs paler. Male: length 15, wing 9.20-10.70, tail 6.30-8.00, bill .60- 
.68. Female: length 17-18, wing 11.00-11.60, tail 7.80-8.80, bill .71-.S0. 
Distribution. — From southern Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, south 
to Patagonia. 
Nest. — A platform of twigs and plant stalks, generally lined with grass; 
placed in mesquite, yucca, or cactus. Eggs: usually 3, yellowish white, 
almost obscured by varying shades of brown. 
Food. — Probably largely small mammals, birds, and insects. 
The Aplomado falcon is a bird of the mesquite, cactus, and yucca 
plains, where it finds a goodly supply of its favorite foods. When 
hunting it often hovers in the air like a sparrow hawk, but unlike 
most hawks rests mainly on the ground. For a falcon it is said to 
be rather a quiet, spiritless bird. 
Subgenus Tinnunculus. 
Tarsus scarcely feathered above, longer than middle toe with claw. 
360. Falco sparverius Linn. SrARKOW Hawk. 
Adult male. — Top of head bluish or 
slaty, with or without rufous crown 
patch ; cheeks with two black stripes ; 
back rufous, with or without black 
bars or spots ; wings bluish gray ; tail 
rufous, with black subterminal band ; 
under parts varying from white to 
rufous, with or without black spots. 
Adult female: similar, but back, 
wings, and tail barred with dusky. 
Young: similar to adults, but colors 
more blended and — in male — feath¬ 
ers of upper parts edged with whitish. 
Male: length 8.75-10.60, wing 7.16, 
tail 4.73, bill .50. Female: length 
9.50-12.00, wing 7.57, tail 5.14, bill 
.50-.55. 
Distribution. — North America from 
Great Slave Lake south, east of the 
Rocky Mountains, to northern South 
America. 
Nest. — In holes, usually in dead 
trees. Eggs: 2 to 5, varying from 
From Biological Survey, U. S. Dept, of 
Agriculture. 
Fig. 237. 
