Accipiter striatus
sharp-shinned hawk

Sharp-shinned hawks can be found throughout much of North America, including Mexico. In South America, they are found from Venezuela to northern Argentina. Most of the North American populations migrate to the southern parts of their range in winter. (Bildstein and Meyer, 2000; Sullivan, 1994)

Sharp-shinned hawks are forest birds. They are found in pine, fir and aspen forests (among others). They can be found hunting in forest interior and edges from sea level to near alpine areas. Sharp-shinned hawks can also be found near rural, suburban and agricultural areas, where they often hunt at bird feeders. (Bildstein and Meyer, 2000; Campbell et al., 1990; Snyder and Snyder, 1991; Sullivan, 1994)

Sharp-shinned hawks are the smallest accipiters (bird hawks) in North America. Males are 24 to 27 cm long and weigh 87 to 114 g. Females are larger, measuring 29 to 34 cm in length and weighing 150 to 218 g. Males have a wingspan of 53 to 56 cm and females 58 to 65 cm.

Sharp-shinned hawks have bluish-gray to slate colored upperparts, with darker coloration on the crown. Their underparts are white with brown bars and their short, rounded wings are dark above and light below. Females have fewer bars on the breast, and their upper parts are more brownish. Sharp-shinned hawks have a short, dark colored, hooked beak and yellow legs and feet. Their tail is square-tipped when not spread and has three to five dark stripes with a small white stripe on the tip. Molting does not change the adult’s appearance. Juveniles have more streaking and/or barring and paler coloration than adults. Sharp-shinned hawks look similar to Cooper’s hawks (Accipiter cooperii) but are smaller. (Bildstein and Meyer, 2000; Gough, Sauer, and Iliff, 1998; Snyder and Snyder, 1991; Wheeler and Clark, 1995)

The longest recorded lifespan for a sharp-shinned hawk is 13 years. However, most do not live longer than 3 years. Causes of mortality include predators, hunting and collisions with cars and buildings. (Bildstein and Meyer, 2000; Sullivan, 1994)

Sharp-shinned hawks are territorial during the breeding season. They deter intruders by calling, chasing and attacking. They are usually solitary, but can sometimes be found in small groups while migrating. Most North American populations are migratory; some fly distances of more than 1500 km. They leave their breeding grounds in August and return in March.

Sharp-shinned hawks show diurnal behavior patterns. Except while migrating, they usually fly below the canopy, using their tail to steer while in flight. (Bildstein and Meyer, 2000; Campbell et al., 1990; Snyder and Snyder, 1991)

Home Range

Their home range is usually between 0.9 and 2.8 square km. (Bildstein and Meyer, 2000)

Sharp-shinned hawks are usually quite silent. They vocalize more frequently during the breeding season. Their alarm calls sound like “kek-kek-kek” or “kik-kik-kik.” Males make a “kip…kip” or “kew kew kew” call when approaching the nest, and females reply with a “keeeep.” Females and nestlings also make “eee” calls. (Bildstein and Meyer, 2000; Snyder and Snyder, 1991)

Small birds comprise ninety percent of a sharp-shinned hawk’s diet, which also includes small mammals and large insects. Sharp-shinned hawks mainly eat Passeriformes (perching birds), but also eat Falconiformes (diurnal birds of prey), Galliformes (chicken-like birds), Charadriiformes (shorebirds and relatives), Columbiformes (doves and pigeons), Apodiformes (swifts and hummingbirds) and Piciformes (woodpeckers and relatives). They often catch birds at feeders and take young birds from nests.

Sharp-shinned hawks are opportunistic hunters. They often hunt from a perch and dart out from hiding to catch prey. Their long, sharp talons help them to grab onto prey and their short bursts of high-speed flight help them to catch their prey. Sharp-shinned hawks pluck their prey before eating them. They get sufficient water from prey and do not need to drink. (Bildstein and Meyer, 2000; Sullivan, 1994)

Their secretive behavior and camouflaged nests help sharp-shinned hawks avoid predators. Known predators of sharp-shinned hawks include: bald eagles (Haliacetus leucocephalus), peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) and northern goshawks (Accipiter gentiles). (Bildstein and Meyer, 2000; Sullivan, 1994)

Sharp-shinned hawks are important members of their ecosystem. Because of their food habits they likely have a regulatory influence on local small bird populations. They are also an important food source for their predators.

Sharp-shinned hawks prey on songbirds, game birds and domestic fowl. (Sullivan, 1994)

Sharp-shinned hawks may play a role in reducing pest species such as European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and house sparrows (Passer domesticus).

Sharp-shinned hawk populations experienced declines between the 1940’s and the 1970’s. The pesticide DDT caused eggshell thinning in many raptors and reduced the success of breeding pairs (eggs were often crushed underneath incubating parents). Conservation concerns today include declines in prey species, environmental contaminants and the fragmentation and reduction of contiguous forest habitat.

Sharp-shinned hawks are protected under the US Migratory Bird Treaty Act and are listed as Appendix II by CITES. (Bildstein and Meyer, 2000; Sullivan, 1994)

Geographic variation exists in the size and coloration of sharp-shinned hawks. There are ten recognized subspecies of Accipiter striatus. Accipiter striatus velox is the most common subspecies in North America.

Sharp-shinned hawks are closely related to Eurasian sparrowhawks (Accipiter nisus) and rufous-breasted sparrowhawks (Accipiter rufiuentris). (Bildstein and Meyer, 2000; Sullivan, 1994)