CERCHNEIS. Boie Isis, p. 976. (1826.)—POECILORNIS. Kaup Class. der
Savg. und Vog, p. 108. (1844.)
Size small, tarsus and toes lengthened, slender. Colors generally more
or less rufous and white. In all other respects similar to typical
_Falco_. This genus comprises about twelve very handsome species of
small size, inhabiting various countries.
1. Tinnunculus sparverius. (Linn.) The Sparrow Hawk.
Falco sparverius. Linn. Syst. Nat. I. p. 128. (1766.)
Falco dominicensis. Gm. Syst. Nat. I. p. 285. (1788.)
Falco gracilis, cinnamominus and isabellinus. Sw. Cab. Cy. p. 281.
(1838.)
Vieill. Ois. d’Am. Sept. pl. 12, 13. Cat. Car. pl. 5. Buff. Pl. Enl.
465. Wilson Am. Orn. II. pl. 16, fig. 1, and IV. pl. 32, fig. 2. Faun.
Bor. Am. Birds, pl. 24. Aud. B. of Am. pl. 42. Oct. ed. I. pl. 22. Nat.
Hist. N. Y. Birds, pl. 7, fig. 16.
Small, wings moderate, tail rounded. Adult Male. Frontal band, space
including the eyes and throat, white; spot on the neck behind, two
others on each side of the neck, and line running downwards from
before the eye, black. Head above, and wing coverts, bluish cinereous,
the latter usually spotted with black. Spot on the top of the head,
the neck behind, back, rump, and generally the tail above, light
rufous or cinnamon red. Under parts generally a pale shade of the same
color, frequently nearly white, but sometimes nearly as dark as the
back, and always with more or less numerous circular, or oblong spots
of black. Quills brownish black, with white bars on their inner webs.
Tail tipped with white, sometimes tinged with rufous, and with a broad
subterminal band of black, frequently with several of the outer
feathers, white tinged with ashy, and barred with black. Bill blue,
legs and feet yellow. Back generally with more or less numerous
transverse stripes of black. Rufous spot on head, much varying in
size, and sometimes wanting.
Female. Upper parts as above, and wing coverts, and tail rust red,
with numerous transverse bands of brownish black, under parts with
numerous longitudinal stripes, and on the sides and flanks, with
transverse bands of the same color, external feathers of the tail
palest, broad subterminal band on the tail, obscure or wanting. Young
Male. Wing-coverts, dark bluish cinereous with large circular spots,
and with bands of brownish black, all the rufous parts with broad
bands of the same color, under parts with large circular spots, and
wide traverse bands of black on the sides and flanks.
Dimensions. Total length, 11 to 12 inches, wing 7 to 7½, tail 5 to 5½
inches. Sexes nearly alike in size.
Hab. The entire continent of America. California, (Mr. Bell.) Mexico,
(Mr. Pease.) Cuba, (M. de Sagra.) Bermuda, (Sir W. Jardine.) Chili,
(Lieut. Gilliss.) Patagonia, (Ex. Exp. Vincennes.) Spec. in Mus. Acad.
Philada.
Obs. This elegant little Hawk, is one of the most handsomely colored of
the Rapacious Birds of North America, and is frequently met with.
It is widely diffused, being common to all parts of the United States,
and we have seen numerous specimens brought in collections from various
parts of South America. The young bird has never been figured. Specimens
from all parts of America are very similar, and we have seen the stages
of plumage, which have been considered as indicating distinct species by
eminent authors, but they do not appear to be constant, nor peculiar to
any locality.