FALCONS, CARACARAS, ETC. FAMILY FALCONIDÆ
GYRFALCON
Falco rusticolus gyrfalco
A large Hawk with long, pointed wings, the upper parts brown with numerous narrow, buffy bars or margins, the tail evenly barred with grayish and blackish, the underparts white lightly streaked with black. L. 22.
Range. Arctic regions; south in winter rarely to New York and Minnesota. The Gray Gyrfalcon (F. r. rusticolus) a paler form, with a streaked crown, the Black Gyrfalcon (F. r. obsoletus) a slate-colored race, and the White Gyrfalcon (F. islandus) are also rare winter visitants to the northern United States.
These great Falcons are so rare in the United States that unless they are seen by an experienced observer, under exceptionally favorable conditions, authentic records of their visits can be based only on the actual capture of specimens.
DUCK HAWK
Falco peregrinus anatum
The adult is slaty blue above; buff below marked with black, and with black cheek-patches. Immature birds are blackish above margined with rusty, below deep rusty buff streaked with blackish. L., male, 16; female, 19.
Range. Northern Hemisphere, breeding south locally to New Jersey and in Alleghanies to South Carolina; winters from New Jersey southward.
Washington, rare and irregular W.V. Ossining, casual. Cambridge, rare T.V., casual in winter, SE. Minn., uncommon S.R., Apl. 4.
As the Peregrine of falconry we know of the Duck Hawk as a fearless, dashing hunter of greater power of wing and talon. It nests in rocky cliffs in April and from its eyrie darts upon passing Pigeons and other birds. It is most often seen following the coast-line during migrations where it takes toll of Ducks and shore-birds. Three to four heavily marked, brownish eggs are laid in April.