Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-11-09
.Hn sHAsP-sarxsxD HAWK.


sHn sHARP-sHrNNKD HAWK.
fly Havard Howe Forbash. Published by
the National Association Of Audubon So
sietiss-i
We san say much In favor Of most land
birds, bat the arp-shinned hawk Is an
exception 70 the rule. From the stand :
point Of the utiiitarian, IL must b re-
rarded - bad, and even vicious. 1t Is .
bold marsuder and, judged BY the stand
ard OF the poultry man, the game keeper,
the sportsman or the bird protectionist.
II Is . convicted fslon. its trade 10 battle.
murder and sudden death, and, unfortu-
nstely, the greater number OF It's victims
are the weak and dsfsnceless young OF
game birds and poultry and the beauti-
iul and useful songsters Of field, farm,
grove, orchard and forest.
This small tird II oce Of . group Of
ssignobie" hawks the accipiters = which
may b distinguiahed from tho sparrow
hawk, pigeon hawk and other falcons
BY their comparatively short, rounded
wings and their long tails. The falcons
have . slightly shorter tail and long,
pointed wings. The butsos, or buxsards,
have long, broad wings and . broad tail,
and oftsn soar in Circles but ths &C.
cipiters move across the country by alter
sately tapping and sailing.
The sharp shinned hawk Ia the smallest
Of thc accipiten, and il sometimes
wrongly called the sparrow hawk or
pigeon-hawk. In general appearance and
habits, It resembles two larger species :
Cooper's hawk and the American gos-
hawk. Coopsr's hawk il next in sire TO
the sharp shinned hawk. and the two are
much alike Ia appearance. The adults OF
each species In some parts Of the country
are known - ablue darters.n
These three species, because OF their
numbers, wide distribution and great
rspscity, probably commit greater and
more vidcsprsad havoc among birds and
game than any other hawks in North
America. Tho larger pernicious falcons
are generally far less common than the
secipiters, and the buxxard hawks aud
marsh hawks generally more useful than
injurious 10 man.
The sharp-shinned hawk is larger than
either the sparrow bs~k or tho pigeon
hawk. and 10 rather longer and simmer.
Specimens average little over q foot in
length. The largest specimens are about
two inches smaller than tho smallest
specimens OF the Cooper's hawk. The
plumass ct full maturity 10 usually slaty
or blsish gray above, the under parts are
whitish, barred and marked with reddish.
Immature birds are brown shove and
ssreaksd with dark brown or reddish
brown below. The tail Is square-tipped
and somewhat heavily barred.
The distribution OF this hawk Is nearly
so-extensive with the continent OF North
America. II breeds throughout most OF
the United States and Canada, and winters
from the latitude OF Massachusetts, to
Central America. In September, numbers
Of these hawks may be seen high in air,
migrating southward in ieisurely man
ner, and 70 they follow the southern
flight OF the smaller birds on which they
prey.
From April until early June, according
to the latitude, the wooing OF hawks be-
gins. Perched in IN exposed position, the
male issues bis shriiless call notes, moving
about from place to place until female
responds. The ardent courtship Is soon
over. and thsn the happy pair fly away in
company TO select suitable ncsting-site.
Nest building occupies about one week.
The usst Is usually placed rather high in
an evergreen tree, in some sequestered
locality. More rarely, II il located in
deciduous tree, in . hollow tree, or on
some lofty ledge or cliff. Sometimes an
old crows nest or . squirrels nest Is
utilised ~ . basis upon which to con-
struct the homes In this case the nest is
large, conspicuous structure; bat, ordi-
nariiy, 1t 10 mot very noticeable, and, in
some casss, II IL well concealed by the
foliage. 1t usually consists OF q platform
OF sticks resting on . whorl Of branches
and axed against the trunk OF the tree.
Dry Rrasses and strips Of bark are usually
placed upon this foundation and inter-
woven to form the nest lining. Some
nests are lees skilfully formed and are un-
lined.
The eggs vary in number from three to
Ave, and are pale white, greenish or blush
white, very heavily biotched, spotted aud
marked with light brown, dark brown,
drab, lawn and lavender. These mark
ings often form ring about some part OF
the egg. Both sexes join In incubation
and in the care Of the young which, when
nrst Matched, are covered with soft white
down.
The young are confined to the nest for
about four weeks. Then they begin to
climb and autter about among the
branches; but, II undisturbsd, they re-
main in the vicinity OF the nest for sew
eral weeks longer, whore they are still fed
by the parents. The woods now resound
with their shrill, squsaiing cries. Having
finally strsngt hsncd their wings BY sxsr-
ciss among the tres-tops, they attempt
longer lighta, and soon leave their home
f0rovSp