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Range (Breeds from the northern) (II)

Breeds from the northern United States northward; winters from the Southern States southward to South America.

Washington, not uncommon T. V. Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V., Apl. 1 to May 11; Aug. 10 to Oct. 15. Cambridge, common T. V., Apl. 10 to May 5; Sept. and Oct.; occasional in winter.

Nest, in trees, in hollow limbs, or on cliffs. Eggs, four to five, varying from creamy white, more or less heavily marked with reddish brown or chocolate, to reddish brown marked with shades of the same color, 1.65 x 1.20. "This Falcon, with the exception possibly of the Broad-winged Hawk, is the least shy of all our diurnal birds of prey, and often may be approached within a few rods. It frequents the more open country and edges of woods, and is common along the shores of large bodies of water. ... "The flight is very rapid and resembles that of the Wild Pigeon quite closely; nor does the similarity end here, for while sitting on a tree the general poise is that of a Pigeon in repose, and specimens have been mistaken and shot for the latter bird.

SPARROW HAWK AND YOUNG. f FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. "Of 56 stomachs examined, 2 contained poultry; 41, small birds; 2, mice; 16, insects; and 5 were empty" (Fisher).

The MERLIN (358.1. Falco regulus) and the KESTREL (359.1. Falco tinnunculus), both Old-World species, have each been recorded once from this side of the Atlantic, the Merlin from Greenland, the Kestrel from Massachusetts (Cory, Auk, v, 1888, pp. 110, 205). 360. Falco sparverius Linn. AMERICAN SPARROW HAWK. Ad. 8. -Back rufous, more or less barred with black; tail rufous, a black band near its end, the tip white; head slaty blue, with generally a rufous spot on the crown; wing-coverts slaty blue, primaries barred with white; a black mark before and behind the white ear-coverts; under parts varying from creambuff to ochraceous-buff; belly and sides spotted with black. Ad. 2.-Back, tail, and wing-coverts rufous, barred with black; head as in the male; under parts more or less heavily streaked with dark ochraceous-buff. Im.-Closely resemble the adults. L., 10.00; W., 7.30; T., 4.80; B. from N., 45.