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Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatusOrder: FALCONIFORMESFamily: Kites, Eagles and Hawks (Accipitridae)

Breeding Location:

Forests, coniferous, Open landscapes, Grassland with scattered trees



Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Solitary nester



Breeding Population:

Common to fairly common



Egg Color:

White to light blue with brown markings



Number of Eggs:

4 - 5



Incubation Days:

32 - 35



Egg Incubator:

Female



Nest Material:

Lined with strips of bark, grass, and coniferous needles.



Migration:

Some migrate



Splitbar

Overview

Sharp-shinned Hawk: Small hawk with blue-gray upperparts and rufous bars on white underparts. Eyes are dark red. Wings are short and rounded. Tail is long and squared with heavy bars. Legs and feet are yellow. Flight consists of rapid wing beats followed by a short glide. Often soars on thermals.

Range and Habitat

Sharp-shinned Hawk: Breeds throughout the U.S. as far north as Canada. Spends winters from northern U.S. to Argentina. Found in deciduous, coniferous, or mixed forests.

Breeding and Nesting

Sharp-shinned Hawk: Four to five brown marked, white to light blue eggs are laid in a large nest built of twigs and built on a low branch in a conifer or deciduous tree. Incubation is carried out by the female and ranges from 34 to 35 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Sharp-shinned Hawk: Diet consists of mostly small birds, but includes small mammals, lizards, and insects; female takes larger prey than male.

Vocalization

Sharp-shinned Hawk: Makes a shrill, high-pitched "kik, kik, kik."

Similar Species

Sharp-shinned Hawk: Cooper's Hawk is larger and has a rounded tail.

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Family
Species Accipiter striatus
Length10 - 14 Inches
Wingspan24 Inches

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk: Small hawk with blue-gray upperparts and rufous bars on white underparts. Eyes are dark red. Wings are short and rounded. Tail is long and squared with heavy bars. Legs and feet are yellow. Flight consists of rapid wing beats followed by a short glide. Often soars on thermals.

● Song: "kik-kik-kik"

● Foraging & Feeding: Sharp-shinned Hawk: Diet consists of mostly small birds, but includes small mammals, lizards, and insects; female takes larger prey than male.

● Breeding & nesting: Sharp-shinned Hawk: Four to five brown marked, white to light blue eggs are laid in a large nest built of twigs and built on a low branch in a conifer or deciduous tree. Incubation is carried out by the female and ranges from 34 to 35 days.

● Similar species: Sharp-shinned Hawk: Cooper's Hawk is larger and has a rounded tail.

Flight Pattern

Buoyant flight with several rapid wing beats between glides.
Sharp-shinned Hawk Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Sharp-shinned Hawk: Breeds throughout the U.S. as far north as Canada. Spends winters from northern U.S. to Argentina. Found in deciduous, coniferous, or mixed forests.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationCommon to fairly common
MigrationSome migrate
Weight3.6 Ounces