Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

With lightning-fast reflexes and a knack for surprise attacks, this small but fierce raptor is the terror of backyard bird feeders across the Americas.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Sharp-shinned Hawk is a small, agile raptor with short, rounded wings and a long, square-tipped tail. Adults display blue-gray upperparts, with rufous-barred white underparts. The head is dark, often appearing hooded.

Males are notably smaller than females, a characteristic known as reverse sexual dimorphism. Juveniles have brown upperparts and streaked underparts, gradually molting into adult plumage over their first year.

Size

Length

24cm to 34cm

Wingspan

53cm to 69cm

Weight

82g to 219g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Blue Grey

Secondary Colour

White Rufous

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Yellow

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown Grey

Secondary Colour (Female)

White Rufous

Beak Colour (Female)

Black

Leg Colour (Female)

Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Sharp-shinned Hawk can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Sharp-shinned Hawk is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Sharp-shinned Hawk is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Sharp-shinned Hawk is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Sharp-shinned Hawk can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Sharp-shinned Hawk is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Sharp-shinned Hawk is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Sharp-shinned Hawk is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Sharp-shinned Hawk is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Sharp-shinned Hawk is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Sharp-shinned Hawk is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Sharp-shinned Hawk is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Sharp-shinned Hawks inhabit a wide range of forested areas across North and Central America. They prefer dense, mixed woodlands but can also be found in suburban areas with sufficient tree cover.

In the United States and Canada, they are widespread during the breeding season. Southern populations are often year-round residents, while northern birds migrate south for winter, reaching as far as Central America.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 3,700 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Sharp-shinned Hawk. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons