NORTHERN PIGEON HAWK. Falco columbarius columbarius Linnaeus

Field characters.—Somewhat larger than Sparrow Hawk, but of similar build, with narrow wings and long tail. Upper surface blackish brown (immatures) or dark bluish gray (adults); under surface buff, streaked with dark brown; chin buffy white; tail obscurely barred, dark brown and whitish.

Occurrence.—Winter visitant in small numbers in western part of Yosemite region. Recorded in several different years at Smith Creek, 6 miles east of Coulterville, by Donald D. McLean.

The Pigeon Hawk is not much larger than the Sparrow Hawk, but it has the daring, intrepid nature of the larger falcons. It preys chiefly upon small birds and is therefore quite different in habits from the common and better known Sparrow Hawk which in structure it resembles rather closely. Two dates of actual capture of specimens at Smith Creek are February 26, 1919, and December 20, 1919.