. Animal snapshots and how made . THE SPARROW HAWK [HE sparrow hawk is sometimes called thekilly hawk, from the sound of itsnote, killy-killy-killy, repeated in rapidsuccession. This beautiful and singularly col-ored little bird is quite plentiful in the northernpart of the United Statesin summer, but at theapproach of winter manymigrate to the SouthernStates. This hawk usuallynests in large wood-pecker holes, and con-sequently rears its broodquite close to the habita-tion of man. The period Spareow Hawkof incubation is about three weeks, and for severaldays after hatching the young are covere
. Animal snapshots and how made . THE SPARROW HAWK [HE sparrow hawk is sometimes called thekilly hawk, from the sound of itsnote, killy-killy-killy, repeated in rapidsuccession. This beautiful and singularly col-ored little bird is quite plentiful in the northernpart of the United Statesin summer, but at theapproach of winter manymigrate to the SouthernStates. This hawk usuallynests in large wood-pecker holes, and con-sequently rears its broodquite close to the habita-tion of man. The period Spareow Hawkof incubation is about three weeks, and for severaldays after hatching the young are covered with a verysoft down; in fact some of the down is not moltedby the time the young birds are ready to fly. 328. The Sparrow Hawk 329 It is a bird of the open country, rather than of thedeep woods, and often it may be seen perched upona dead limb of a tree by the meadow, watching for amouse or a grasshopper. When the hawk has locatedits quarry, it hovers above it for a moment, then,dropping quickly, seizes it with its sharp talons, andbears it away to the perch, to be devoured at have often watched these birds feasting upon grass-hoppers ; and so intently were they engaged that Icould approach very near their watch towers withoutseeming to disturb them in the least. One Augustafternoon I very unexpectedly came upon a sparrowhawk as he sat upon a stub, and as he paid no atten-tion to me I watched him for some time. Withinhalf an hour he caught and brought to the stub twelvelarge grasshoppers, which he devoured with apparentrelish. This hawk feeds upon other insects also,seeming to have a special Uking for crickets andspiders. When the insects upon which he feeds are scarce,he gives more
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectani, booksubjectbirds
