Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.
Obs. Rather a difficult species to the ornithologist, on account of the
great variations in its colors, and in size also. It is, in fact,
unusual to find two alike in a dozen specimens. Very similar when adult
to _A. fuscus_, but much larger. The adults of both sexes are the same
in color. We have latterly suspected that the smaller specimens usually
considered as young males of this bird, are really the young of the
species next below, (_A. Mexicanus_.)
This bird is of frequent occurrence in the United States.
3. Accipiter Mexicanus. Swainson. The Mexican Black-capped Hawk.
Accipiter Mexicanus. Swains. Faun. Bor. Am. Birds p. 45, (1831,)
not figured.
Smaller than the preceding; tail long, rounded. Adult, head above
black; other upper parts dark brownish black, with a tinge of
cinereous, darkest on the back. Throat and under tail-coverts white;
other under parts fine light rufous, deepest on the tibiæ, and barred
and spotted with white nearly obsolete on the breast, sides and tibiæ,
the longitudinal dark lines on the shafts of the feathers,
(conspicuous in _A. Cooperii_,) barely discernible on the breast.
Quills, dark brown, edged exteriorly with ashy, and with bands of
darker brown and white on their inner webs; tail, dark cinereous,
tipped with white, and with four bands of brownish black, that near
the base of the tail obscure. Young, head and neck behind, and upper
part of the back, dark rufous, striped with brownish black; other
upper parts umber brown; under parts white, with longitudinal narrow
stripes of brown; wings and tail as in adult; upper tail-coverts
tipped with white. “Iris, carmine,” Dr. Gambel.
Dimensions. Total length, male, 15 inches, wing 9, tail 8 inches.
Hab. California (Dr. Gambel, Mr. Bell); Mexico (Mr. Pease); Eastern?
Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.
Obs. Similar for the greater part, to _A. Cooperii_, but smaller, and
with the tail and tarsi comparatively longer, and with the fine red of
the under parts more uniform, the white stripes being nearly obsolete.
Several specimens of both adults and young were brought in the fine
collection made in California by Mr. J. G. Bell, of New York, and it was
previously brought from the same country by Dr. Gambel, and from Mexico
by Mr. Pease.