The American Sparrow Hawk
By WILLIAM DUTCHER
chairman National Commillee ol Anllllholl Societies
DEschPTloN
adult .llule —Gcllernl aspect above brlzhl ruluu . top or head bluish slate with rulaus crown patch.w h 'l‘ll’lzsvct)‘ greatly in siae in diderenr individuals: sserresni large black patches commences under eyes and err- rendstb back ol neck, back barred with hlzlck. .n‘ some birds pralusely. others very slightly: sub-let al brparl band 0! black on rail. hallowed lrywhitr- tip; outer leathersof tail and sometimes others marked with blaclt and
while. showing cnnsprcuous )' lrnrn below; wing. upper parr bluish. marl: or less spotted at barred with black. ner web barred with white. shewinu ebnspieudnsly from underneath; under parts
'lonz ouill italhers black.
l'arying lrom almost white to deep burl. ml: or less spotted. urth black on sr es and belly: throat while. Adult chalt —cenera1appe:rancc abut-e rurous. very hea ly barred with black: head like that 0! male. show-
dusl rariatiu wan. lanz quill leathers. black sputterl on upper surlace with rutuus. bulshow-
me similar lndr ine silvel). hatred with black. lrum below: underneath. whitishy heavily streaked with brown. varying in shade
iram pale la len‘ dark,
The variation in the pattern nl plnmare 01 the Sparrow Harris is very remarkable. maxing ir extremely dit- iicull to :tccumlely describe rhe spctizs, in a large stries bl speeimens. hardly any we birds arc exaerly alike in derail.
'mmalnvr -Plunla:c very similar to adults. the sexes being distinguishable as sunn as the young are able to fly.
size—Male. iron and nl hill to end ol rarl r-arres lrom 3.7; m lo.;u inches: this lemale is larger. varying from n so to 11 inches
Kernels in a cavrty u! some kind; a hole in a tree. either narural or rhe work of some Woodpecker. and. when: trees are nnr avallahlz. a halt- in a Sandstorm cliii or in a clay bank,
Egg: stually rram three m iir-c.whrch vary in color irom clear while In hurt or cream: sported. blutrhed, marblellt br sprinkled with shades oi walnut brown. chestnut. cinnamon. rulalls and achraeenus in raryine pat- terns. "Surcer any (we sers are exactly alilte." (Bendire)
nirrrrburrnnr'rhu sparrow Hawk is [mind In all parrs nl North Americar tram Great Slaw: Lakc southward lo narthern South America. Wesr oi rhe Rocky Mountains a slightly diflcrenl species is recognized. known as the Desert Sparrow Hawk lf‘alw rpanlcrilu phallz'rm), and in Lower Calrtornia is still another species. called 5t. Lucas sparrow Hawk iralra rprneriur rnruiar howel‘ery idr the purposes oi this leaflet. which in issued to call at cenribn ro lhc ccnnnrnic talue oi the Sparrow Hawks. but nne species is described. The actual diflerenc: between be three species is so very slight that only the most :xnert and cm cal nrnitholazisl ean ohszrv: rt» the lays man can see no dificrenee in rbe plumares. and as rhe habits of all are rhe same. and all deserve protection.
consideration as separate subspecies is not necessary at rhis lime.
i
i The Sparrow Hawk is the smallest of the North American Hawks, and is also our must i beaniilnl species, as well as being one of the most beneficial. Its name is singularly ina‘p- propriate, as it in no way resembles a Sparrow in form or habits, nor does it eat them to any serious extent. If it could be renamed at the present time, it might very properly be called the Grasshopper Hawk, because it destroys such enormous quantities of these destruc- tive insects. The only species that the Sparrow Hawk can be confused with is the Pigeon Hawk or the Sharp-shinned Hawk. While it is always somewhat lfficult to recognize some birds while flying, or even while at test, yet it may he done by a careful observer, and it should be done in the case of the Sparrow Hawk because of its great worth and entire lack of harmful qualities.
The large amount of chestnut color on the back and tail of both sexes of the Sparrow Hawk is a strong distinguishing mark, the Pigeon Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk being much darker.
Below, the Sparrow Hawk presents a much lighter client than the two other species. which are heavily barred or streaked underneath, The length of the wings is another very marked point of (lifierencc in the Sparrow Hawks. When the Sparrow Hawk is perched with wings folded they reach nearly to the end of the tail. while the wings of the Sharp- shinnetl Hall-k fall far short of it. The flight of these small Hawks diflers quite materi- drop to
ally, rlre Sparrow Hawk being much given to hovering in the open. when it wll
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