. Report on the birds of Pennsylvania : with special reference to the food habits, based on over four thousand stomach examinations. Birds. 120 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. mainly on field mice, other small quadrupeds, frogs, large insects and sometimes, though rarely, they catch small wild birds. In writing of the food-habits, etc., of this species Nuttall says: "It frequents chiefly, open, low and marshy situations, over which it sweeps or skims along at a little distance usually from the ground, in quest of mice, small birds, frogs, lizards and other reptiles, which it often selects by twili
. Report on the birds of Pennsylvania : with special reference to the food habits, based on over four thousand stomach examinations. Birds. 120 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. mainly on field mice, other small quadrupeds, frogs, large insects and sometimes, though rarely, they catch small wild birds. In writing of the food-habits, etc., of this species Nuttall says: "It frequents chiefly, open, low and marshy situations, over which it sweeps or skims along at a little distance usually from the ground, in quest of mice, small birds, frogs, lizards and other reptiles, which it often selects by twilight as well as in the open day; and at times, pressed by hunger, it joins the owls, and seeks out its prey even by ; In fourteen examinations made by myself, seven hawks had only field mice in tlieir stomachs; three, frogs; two, small birds (warblers); one, few feathers, apparently of a sparrow {Melospiza) and fragments of in- sects ; one, large number of grasshoppers with a small quantity of hair, evidently that of a young rabbit. Genus ACCIPITER * Brisson. Accipiter velox (Wils.). Sharp-shinnod Hawk; PartritlKO Hawk; " Pigeon ; Description {Plate 14). A large female of this species nieasures about 14 inches in length by 26 inches in extent. The male is smaller. In adult birds, especially the males, the plumage of the upper i)arts is bluish-gray, quite dark on top of liead. Iris in adult, reddisli orange, in young, light yellow. Habitat.—North America in general, south to Panama. This extremely daring and spirited little hawk is one of the most abundant of our North American species. In Pennsylvania during the early spring, autumn and winter it is quite plentiful, being frequently met with in the mountainous and heavily-wooded districts, as well as the cultivated and rich agricultural regions. It is a native, but as such, is somewhat rare in many parts of the state. I have taken two nests, both built in low cedar trees; these nests were entirely
Size: 1220px × 2049px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1890
