File:Birds and nature in natural colors. (1913) (14565320469).jpg

Identifier: birdsnatureinnat04unse (find matches)
Title: Birds and nature in natural colors.
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors:
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Mumford, Publisher
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: BHL-SIL-FEDLINK

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nition Marks.—Robin size, but appearing larger. The black markingsabout head, and rufous of upper parts distinctive. Range.—North America east to the Rocky Mountains, and from Great SlaveLake south to northern South America. The handsome appearance of this little Falcon, together with its comparativefearlessness and gratifying abundance, make it rather the best-known bird ofprey throughout the state. It is to be found almost anywhere, and pays us fre-quent visits in town, but its favorite perch is a dead tree-top or stub at the edgeof the woods, or a telegraph pole commanding an unobstructed view. Fromthese points of vantage the birds attentively watch the happenings on the groundand dive down whenever they think their presence is needed by mouse or grass-hopper. Much time is spent also on the wing, passing rapidly from wood tofield, or flying slowly across a promising meadow, and pausing frequently at agood height to study a suspicious movement in the grass below. A Hawk will 612
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flutter over one spot for a minute at a time, and then pass on disappointed, or elsepounce suddenly upon its prey and bear it off to some elevated perch for quietconsumption. When the wind is blowing strong the bird no longer flutters at itscritical stops, but only balances on the wind, so nicely, indeed, that its wings arealmost motionless. The Sparrow Hawk is the smallest of the North American Hawks, and isalso our most beautiful species, as well as being one of the most beneficial. Itsname is singularly inappropriate, as it no way resembles a sparrow in formor habits, nor does it eat them to any serious extent. If it could be renamed atthe present time, it might very properly be called the Grasshopper Hawk, becauseit destroys such enormous quantities of these destructive insects. The onlyspecies that the Sparrow Hawk can be confused with is the Pigeon Hawk or theSharp-shinned Hawk. While it is always somewhat difficult to recognize somebirds while flying or even while at rest, yet

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