Peregrine Falcon almost became the Duck Hawk...

John James Audubon

A longtime acquaintance of mine made a gift to me, several years ago, of a bird book he acquired at an auction sale.   It was entitled 'Bird Homes' by A.R. Dugmore and was published 119 years ago in 1900.   Dugmore was a renowned birder, known world-wide, and his books were widely published.   In Bird Homes, He lists the Duck Hawk, and sub-titles it the Peregrine Falcon.   He goes on to say: "Few people associate the name Duck Hawk with the Peregrine Falcon of history, yet this is the bird that was used when falconry was the fashionable pastime; at the time almost any price was paid for a well-trained tercel, as the male bird was called; now that falconry has almost died out, the name of peregrine will probably go, and the more common name of duck hawk will be the only name by which this bird will be known".

Well, 119 years later, the name Peregrine Falcon name has not disappeared and the name Duck Hawk is merely a historical footnote.   Three of my newer field guides, Sibley, Stokes and National Geographic, make no mention of the name Duck Hawk.   Moreover, Dugmore lists a raptor known as the Pigeon Hawk, and does not use the name Merlin at all.

Please comment if you wish.
BarrytheBirder