Catesby, Mark. Vol.I, Tab. 5, The Little Hawk

Mark Catesby (1638 - 1749)Etching with hand color, paper dimensions: approximately 14 x 19 inchesFrom Volume I, Part 1 of Catesby's Natural History of Carolina, Florida & the Bahama IslandsLondon: 1729 - 1771 Currently known as the American kestrel, Falco sparverius*, Catesby described this subject as follows: ACCIPTER MINOR The Little Hawk. This Bird weighs three ounces 16 penny weight. The Basiss of the upper Mandible is cover'd with a yellow Sear: the Iris of the Eye yellow; the Head lead-colour, with large red spot on its Crown: round the back of his head, are seven black spots regularly placed: the Throat and Cheeks are white, with a tincture of red; the Back red, and marked with transverse black lines: the Quill-feathers of the Wing dark-brown; the rest of the Wing blue, marked, as on the Back, with black: the Tail red, except an inch of the end, which is black; the Breast and Belly of a blueish red; the Legs and Feet yellow. The Hen differs from the Cock, as follows: her who