Hawk - Sharp Shinned

Other Breeds

Keeshond   |   Palomino   |   Pig – Pot Bellied   |  

Alternative Name

Sharpie Scientific Name: Accipiter striatus

Basic Info

A mature Sharp Shinned Hawk is usually between ten to 14 inches in length (25 to 36 centimeters) and has a 21 to 22 inch (54 to 56 centimeters) wingspan. As with most hawks, females are larger than males. These lovely birds are predominantly bluish gray. Their undersides are white or cream colored, marked with thin russet colored bars. The under tail coverts are also white. Sharp Shinned Hawks have dark or black bands across their tails and flight feathers. Their heads are marked with black caps and their eyes are red. Juveniles have yellow eyes and are mostly brown. Their undersides are also heavily streaked in brown. The long tails of Sharp Shinned Hawks are square in shape, often marked by a notch. Their heads are relatively small and their bodies are rather stocky in appearance. Their wings also appear relatively short though broad. Sharp Shinned Hawks receive their names from the sharp ridges that run down the length of their bare, long legs.

Health

Sharp Shinned Hawks should be fed a diet close to their natural diet. Poultry and other birds may be appropriate items to offer. Breeding Usually Sharp Shinned Hawks build their nests in the lower branches of trees, using twigs. Generally, the eggs are whitish in color with brown spots. An average clutch consists of three to four eggs.

Habitat

N/A

Behavior

Frequently confused for other raptor species, the smallest hawk in North America, the Sharp Shinned Hawk is a beautiful bird. The Sharp Shinned Hawk, identified by a discerning eye, is often observed with pleasure by those who live in the areas it passes through during migration, and by those who live in areas the Sharp Shinned Hawk will migrate to. The flight of the Sharp Shinned Hawk is skilled and swift. Flight motions consist of a number of wing beats in quick succession, followed by a glide. The wrists are always in front of the head during flight. The call of the Sharp Shinned Hawk is best described as a shrill or high-pitched "kik" sound repeated in rapid succession. Most often, Sharp Shinned Hawks are found in wooded areas, apparently showing no preference between coniferous and deciduous forests. They are also found along the edges of plains or near thickets. Sharp Shinned Hawks are migratory birds and usually winter in southern North America, Central America, or South America. In the summer, they are found in more northerly regions of North America, where they breed. Interestingly enough, Sharp Shinned Hawks' eggs hatch at roughly the same time that songbirds' eggs do, so that the young hawks can learn hunting methods and flight skills while young songbirds, their primary prey item, are learning flight skills. Unfortunately, Sharp Shinned Hawks are not always welcomed in human inhabited areas, since they are often seen hunting near backyard bird feeders. These hawks are agile fliers, but may be easily confused by numerous prey items moving in opposite directions, apparently indecisive as to which one to chase.

Origin

North America

History

The Sharp Shinned Hawk is native to North America, and is in fact the smallest Accipiter found on that continent. Many times, female Sharp Shinned Hawks are mistaken for male Cooper's Hawks, since the birds are similar in size.

Common Foods

By the time they are adults, Sharp Shinned Hawks will pursue prey items larger than themselves, including rabbits, pigeons, and sometimes poultry, though songbirds are their mainstay.