.--Whole of North America, breeding locally, chiefly in mountainous
regions, throughout its range.

This beautiful species, characterized by its black moustache, is the
most graceful, fearless, and swiftest of the Falcons, striking down
birds of several times its own weight, such as some of the larger Ducks.
It breeds quite abundantly on the Pacific coast and in certain
localities in the Dakotas, laying its eggs on the rocky ledges. Their
eggs are similar to those of the Prairie Falcon, but are darker and
brighter, in fact they are the darkest, brightest marked, and most
beautiful of Falcon eggs; size 2.05 x 1.55.

[Illustration 221: Reddish buff.]
[Illustration: Prairie Falcon.]
[Illustration: Duck Hawk.]
[Illustration: Buff or reddish buff.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 220

356b. PEALE'S FALCON. _Falco peregrinus pealei._

Range.--Pacific coast from northern United States north to Alaska.

A darker form of the preceding, such as occurs in this section with a
great many other birds. The nesting habits and the eggs are precisely
like those of the Duck Hawk.

357. Pigeon Hawk. _Falco columbarius columbarius._

Range.--North America, breeding chiefly north of the United States
except in some of the higher ranges along our northern border. A small
Falcon, about 11 inches long, often confused with the Sharp-shinned
Hawk, but much darker and a more stoutly built bird. It is a daring
species, often attacking birds larger than itself; it also feeds on
mice, grasshoppers, squirrels, etc. They generally build a nest of
sticks in trees, deep in the woods; less often in natural cavities of
dead trees; and sometimes on rocky ledges. Their four or five eggs have
a brownish buff ground color, heavily blotched with brown and chestnut.
Size 1.50 x 1.22.

357a. BLACK PIGEON HAWK. _Falco columbarius suckleyi._

Range.--Pacific coast from northern United States north to Alaska.

Very similar in appearance to the preceding, but much darker, both above
and below. Its nesting habits and eggs will not differ in any manner
from those of the Pigeon Hawk.

357b. RICHARDSON'S PIGEON HAWK. _Falco columbarius richardsoni._

Range.--Interior of North America from the Mississippi to the Rockies
and from Mexico to the Saskatchewan.

This species is similar to the Pigeon Hawk, but is paler both above and
below, and the tail bars are more numerous and white. Their nesting
habits are the same as those of the precedin