Altho his body is little larger than a Robin's, this relentless buccaneer, like his larger relative the Cooper Hawk, fully upholds the Hawk tradition for destructiveness. Fortunately the persistent campaign of education as to the difference between good and bad birds of this family, is having its effect and agriculturists are realizing that but few birds of prey are more harmful than beneficial. Opinion is gradually crystalizing into the conviction that only three Hawks deserve destruction — the SHARPSHIN, the Cooper and the Goshawk. There are individuals of other species who acquire a taste for poultry and it may become necessary to eliminate a particular individual but the wholesale destruction of Hawks brings punishment upon ignorance by an increase of quadruped and insect pests.

This murderous little Sharpshin villain will destroy all small birds unfortunate enuf to live within its hunting grounds. At times it seems to "see red," attacking with blind fury birds much larger than itself. I saw one tackle a Screech Owl and have no doubt he would have killed it had there been no interference, the Owl being handicapt by daylight. Quick as he is, the Flicker often escapes his onslaught by dodging around a limb but is caught if attempting flight. A family of six young Flickers were killed, one after another, because experience had not taught them to hug the branch; the Hawk's swift plunges frightened them into flight and that little demon nailed them before they had gone ten feet.