Wilson observes, that the Pigeon-Hawk is generally migratory in the northern
and middle parts of the United States, arriving in Pennsylvania early in the
spring, extending its migrations to Hudson’s Bay, and, after building and rearing
its young, retiring to the south early in November. Mr. Hutchins, in his Notes
on the Hudson’s Bay Birds, informs us, that this species “ makes its nest on
the rocks and in hollow trees, of sticks and grass, lined with feathers, laying from
two to four white eggs, thinly marked with red spots. The young fly in August.
It preys on small birds, which it seizes with dexterity, screaming loudly at the
onset; and when it is disturbed, it will fly round and round, making a continued
noise.” DESCRIPTION
Of an individual killed at York Factory on the 4th September, 1822, supposed to be a male.
C olour of the head brownish-black, with reddish-brown margins to the feathers. The
whole dorsal aspect is deep broccoli-brown, slightly varied by dark chestnut-brown edgings to
the feathers, which are scarcely noticed at first sight, and are most perceptible on the lesser
wing coverts. The tail coverts have paler margins, approaching to wood-brown. The tail is
black, crossed by four yellowish-grey bars, tinged here and there with brown, and tipped with
the same. The inner webs of the bastard wing and quill feathers are marked by five or six
large oval spots of yellowish-grey, more or less tinged with brown. TJnder surface. The
cheeks, a streak above the eyes, the throat, breast, belly, and thighs, have a dull ochre-
yellow, or yellowish-brown colour, spotted and streaked with brownish-black. The latter
colour forms a large oval mark in the centre of each feather on the breast; but on the belly
and thighs it is confined to a streak along the mid-rib. The linings of the wings are ochre-
yellow, spotted with black ; the under surfaces of the quill and tail feathers are deep clove-’
brown, crossed by rows of oblong, wine-yellow spots. Bill yellowish-grey at the base, bluish-
black at the tip. Cere wax-yellow: inside of the mouth bluish; margins of the eyelids yellow.
Legs yellow.
F orm, 8cc.—Bill shaped like that of the preceding species. The tips of the folded wings
reach within an inch of the end of the tail, the scapularies are short, and the secondaries and
tertiaries reach to the tips of the tail coverts. The third quill feather is the. longest, the second
is almost as long, and the others in succession are considerably shorter. The tarsi are feathered
anteriorly for a short way below the joint. The toes are long, with rounded cushions
beneath the joints, and sharp curved nails. When the leg is stretched out, the tip of the middle
claw reaches to the point of the folded wing.
Dihensions. Length from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail .'I1nc1he s. Lin0es.
,, - of the tail . .. . . ,. .. „. 5 -6
Extent between the tips of the wings . . . . 22 0
The specimen from which the above description was taken was not brought
home, having been accidentally destroyed. The description accords nearly with
Pennant’s, quoted above.