Sharp-Shinned Hawk

Common Name:

Sharp-Shinned hawk

Scientific Name:

Accipiter striatus

Appearance:

• Bill: Short and curved with a small yellow patch close to the head on the upper bill
• Size: 9-13 inches long with 23-inch wingspan, very thin legs
• Colors: Light and dark gray, blue gray, white, rusty red, brown
• Markings: Head and back are medium to dark gray, white breast is thickly streaked with rusty red or brown streaks, long squared-off tail has darker gray horizontal strips and a thin white stripe on the tip. Adults have red eyes while juvenile birds have yellow eyes with a faint white streak along the eyebrow. Male and female birds look alike.

Foods:

Small birds, small mammals

Habitat and Migration:

Sharp-shinned hawks are common in woodland areas and open lowlands throughout the United States, southern and western Canada, Mexico and Central America. Northern bird populations will migrate to the South, but sharp-shinned hawks in the western mountains of Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, southern Idaho, northern California, Washington and Oregon may be present year-round.

Vocalizations:

Hawks rely partially on stealth to capture their prey and sounds are rare. Sharp-shinned hawks will call a harsh “kee-kee-kee” or “kik-kik-kik” alarm when a nest is threatened.

Behavior:

Like all birds of prey, sharp-shinned hawks will soar over their territory to locate prey. They are likely to feed on the ground after capturing a bird, mouse or other small mammal and may remain on the ground for several minutes after feeding. They will perch in areas with good visibility to locate feeding grounds, and often make short, close flights over bushes or dense brush to startle small birds into flight to be easier to catch.

The sharp-shinned hawk’s long tail and rounded wings give them excellent maneuverability through dense brush and trees in pursuit of prey.

Reproduction:

Female sharp-shinned hawks build a platform nest and raise one brood of three to five young per year. Eggs must be incubated for 30-35 days and fledgling birds remain in the nest for another 25-27 days. Both male and female birds will feed and rear the nestlings.

Juvenile sharp-shinned hawks can be identified by their yellow eyes, more brownish color rather than red on the breast and their inexperience while hunting.

Attracting Sharp-Shinned Hawks:

Because sharp-shinned hawks feed on smaller birds, they are attracted to backyards where sparrows, doves and other small birds feed. If feeding areas are visible from the air, hawks are more likely to be frequent visitors.

Similar Birds:

• Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
• Merlin (Falco columbarius)
• Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
• Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)