(CINNAMOMEOUS KESTREL.)
+Falco sparverius+, _Burm. La-Plata Reise_, ii. p. 437 (Mendoza,
Tucuman); _Barrows, Auk_, 1884, p. 110 (Entrerios). +Tinnunculus
sparverius+, _Darwin, Zool. 'Beagle,'_ iii. p. 29 (Rio Negro);
_Scl et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 121; _iid. P. Z. S._ 1868, p. 143
(Buenos Ayres); _Hudson, P. Z. S._ 1872, p. 536 (Rio Negro);
_Durnford, Ibis_, 1877, p. 39 (Chupat), p. 188 (Buenos Ayres),
et 1878, p. 398 (Centr. Patagonia); _Gibson, Ibis_, 1879, p. 412
(Buenos Ayres). +Cerchneis cinnamomina+, _Sharpe, Cat. B._ i. p.
439. +Tinnunculus cinnamominus+, _Withington, Ibis_, 1888, p. 470
(Lomas de Zamora).
_Description._--Above cinnamon-red, with irregular black cross bands
on the back; head bluish grey; front and sides of head white; nape
and stripes on the sides of the neck black; wings bluish grey with
black central spots; remiges black, with numerous white cross bars
on the inner webs; tail cinnamon-red, with a broad subterminal black
band and white tip: beneath white, with buffy tinge and irregular
oval black spots: whole length 10·5 inches, wing 7·7, tail 5·0.
_Female_ similar, but rather larger; upper surface regularly barred
across; beneath buffy white with brown shaft-stripes; tail with
numerous cross bars.
_Hab._ South America.
The habits of this little Falcon closely resemble those of _Falco
fusco-cærulescens_, and like that bird it is common in Patagonia and
migrates north in winter. Many individuals, however, do not migrate, as
I found when residing at the Rio Negro, where some pairs remained at
the breeding-place all the year. Many pairs are also found resident and
breeding in other parts of the Argentine country, but it is common only
in Patagonia.
It nests in holes in cliffs and also on trees, and sometimes builds its
own nest on the large nest of a Dendrocolaptine bird or of a Parroquet.
It lays four eggs, large for the size of the bird, oval in shape, and
white in colour, thickly blotched with dull red.
The preying habits of the Little Kestrel are similar to those of the
Orange-chested Hobby; it haunts farm-houses and plantations, and spends
a great deal of time perched on some elevation watching for its prey,
and making sudden dashes to capture it by surprise. But though not bold
when seeking its food, it frequently makes violent unprovoked attacks
on species very much larger than itself, either from ill-temper or in a
frolicsome spirit, which is more probable.
Thus I have seen one drive up a flock of Glossy Ibises and pursue them
some distance, striking and buffeting them with the greatest energy. I
saw another pounce down from its perch, where it had been sitting for
some time, on a female skunk quietly seated at the entrance of her
burrow, with her three half-grown young frolicking around her. I was
watching them with intense interest, for they were leaping over their
parent's tail, and playing like kittens with it, when the Hawk dashed
down, and after striking at them quickly three or four times, as they
tumbled pell-mell into their kennel, flew quietly away, apparently well
satisfied with its achievement.