Male Sharp-shinned hawks are the smallest hawks in the United States and Canada. Overall, currently, Sharp-shinned hawks are classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and their numbers today are increasing. They usually breed between March and June. Sharp-shinned hawks have a long tail and rounded wings; this allows them to maneuver with agility through dense brush and trees in pursuit of prey. Due to their diet habits, Sharp-shinned hawks control small bird populations in their ecosystem. They are generally solitary but may migrate in small groups. These hawks prey mostly on other birds. This results in the lack of conflict for prey between the sexes. The hooked bill is black and the cere is yellowish. They are brooded for 16 to 23 days by the female, while the male defends the territory and catches prey. Eyes are dark red. The eggs od Sharp-shinned hawks are prized by egg-collectors because they are heavily marked with surprisingly colorful and varied markings. >> Their long tails act as rudders that allow them to be extremely maneuverable in … Male Sharp-shinned hawks are the smallest hawks in the United States and Canada. Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub, 2. The brown head is streaked whitish, and the whitish underparts are extensively streaked brown or reddish and usually with reddish barring on the sides. They often pluck the feathers off their prey on a post or other perch. The young fledge at the age of about a month and rely on their parents for feeding and protection for another 4 weeks. Interesting Facts! However studies indicate that feeders don’t greatly increase a songbird’s chances of being taken by a Sharp-shinned Hawk—the hawks get the great majority of their diet elsewhere. Wings are short and rounded. Sharp-shinned Hawk: Small hawk with blue-gray upperparts and rufous bars on white underparts. Most bird watchers prefer to discourage this behavior. Reproductive maturity is usually reached at 2 years of age. Sharp-shinned hawks are secretive diurnal birds. Underparts are white with rufous or tawny bars. The largest populations are thought to occur in the temperate boreal forests, but winter in warmer regions farther south. The hawks usually bring their prey to a feeding perch or log. >> Cooper’s hawks belong to a family of hawks known as Accipiters (includes hawks with medium-sized, short winged, and long legged appearance). Tail is long and squared with heavy bars. Sharp-shinned hawks are monogamous and nest in solitary pairs. They’re easiest to … The birds construct a stick nest in a large conifer or dense group of deciduous trees. They live in a wide range of woodland and forest types, both dominated by conifers and by various types of broad-leaved trees (especially oaks). The nesting sites and breeding behavior of Sharp-shinned hawks are generally secretive, in order to avoid the predation of larger raptors, such as the Northern goshawk and the Cooper's hawk. These are agile and acrobatic fliers that surprise and capture most of their prey from cover or while flying quickly through dense vegetation. Sharp-shinned hawks are small birds of prey native to the Americas. Sharp-shinned Hawks use their long toes and talons to impale and hold moving prey. The legs are long and very slender (hence the common name) and yellow. Interesting Facts: In the Northeast, the sharp-shinned hawk is the most common accipiter seen during migration. Female Sharp-shinned Hawks are about a third bigger and heavier than males. Legs and feet are yellow. According to the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary resource, the total Sharp-shinned hawk population size is estimated to be over 1 million birds. Donate Bitcoins: 1PijmZd8QTTzBXWBpnHLpzCgEJAv4piBBf, @ Richard Keller - With Me Photography - All Rights Reserved, The Sharp-shinned Hawk is the smallest hawk in North America, Most Sharp-shinned Hawks spend their summers under the canopy of dense forests, As common in Accipiter hawks, female Sharp-shinned Hawks are distinctly larger in size than males, with an average size advantage of 30%, and a weight advantage of more than 50% being common. Adult Sharp-shinned Hawks pass food to their young in mid-air. Sharp-shinned hawks are carnivores that feed on small birds, especially various songbirds such as sparrows, wood-warblers, finches, wrens, nuthatches, tits, icterids and thrushes. Sharp-shinned hawks can also be found in shrublands, thickets, near suburban and agricultural areas. Typically, male Sharp-shinned Hawks will target smaller birds, such as sparrows and wood-warblers, and females will pursue larger prey, such as American Robins and flickers. That’s the Sharp-shinned Hawk, the smallest hawk in Canada and the United States and a daring, acrobatic flier. Fun Facts for Kids. According to the All About Birds resource, the total breeding population size of the species is 700,000 individuals. Sharp-Shinned Hawk on The IUCN Red List site -, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharp-shinned_hawk, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22734130/155416546. Sharp-shinned hawks are widespread in North America, Central America, South America and the Greater Antilles. They will hover briefly and kick the prey outward just as the fledgling arrives. Sharp-shinned hawks are not considered threatened; however, these raptors are at risk from DDT and other pesticides, habitat loss and fragmentation, and are vulnerable to window strikes as they often hunt small birds and are common in suburban areas. They are adept at navigating dense thickets, although this hunting method is often hazardous to the hawk. Enjoy the Post? Their eyes are distinctly red. The Sharp-shinned Hawk is the smallest hawk in North America; Most Sharp-shinned Hawks spend their summers under the canopy of dense forests; As common in Accipiter hawks, female Sharp-shinned Hawks are distinctly larger in size than males, with an average size advantage of 30%, and a weight advantage of more than 50% being common; Typically, male Sharp-shinned Hawks will target smaller … The remiges (typically only visible in flight) are whitish barred blackish. Sharp-shinned hawks use their nests year after year, and only when the nest becomes too old, adults will build another nest above it. Sharp-shinned Hawks often pluck the feathers off their prey on a post or other perch before eating them, While in migration, adults are sometimes preyed on by most of the larger bird-hunting raptors, especially the Peregrine Falcon. Over 11,000 were seen on one October day at Cape May Point, New Jersey, Backyard bird feeders attract Sharp-shinned Hawks from time to time. Sharp-shinned hawks are the smallest accipiters and are fondly referred to as “sharpies.” They have copper barring on their white underparts and blue grey feathering on their backs, nape, and crown, giving it a hooded look. Flight consists of rapid wing beats followed by a short glide. A tiny hawk that appears in a blur of motion—and often disappears in a flurry of feathers. These raptors have distinctive proportions: long legs, short wings, and very long tails, which they use for navigating their deep-woods homes at top speed in pursuit of songbirds and mice. These small raptors are also an important food source for local predators such as Northern goshawk, Cooper's hawk, and Peregrine falcon. Sharp-Shinned Hawk Our smallest accipiter, the “sharpie” is a jay-size hawk that frequents backyard bird feeders in winter, bursting from nearby bushes to snatch a small bird off a branch. The eggs od Sharp-shinned hawks are prized by egg-collectors because they are heavily marked with surprisingly colorful and varied markings. Such logs, and the feathers, fur or animal parts near them, are characteristic of the … During the nest construction, the female does most of the work and the male may only help gather nesting materials. The chicks are altricial; they hatch helpless and are covered with white down. After feeding, the birds spend their time resting as they need to digest their prey. In Connecticut, sharp-shinned hawks are seldom seen except during fall migration, when they frequent open country, woodland edges and shorelines. Sharpies have narrow hips and proportionally larger heads than their Cooper's cousins, and sharp-shinned hawks also have thinner legs. Juveniles have dark brownish upperparts, each feather edged rufous, giving a rather scaly appearance. The female lays 3 to 8 eggs and incubates them within 30 days. Typically, males hunt smaller birds, such as sparrows and wood-warblers, and females pursue larger prey, such as American robins and flickers, leading to a lack of conflict between the sexes for prey. Often soars on thermals. More often than not, a trip to a New Jersey hawk watch in will give you the opportunity of seeing a Sharp-shinned Hawk streak past. Sharp-shinned hawks often visit backyard bird feeders in order to target congregations of ideal prey. Sharp-shinned hawks are notably smaller, though small male Cooper's hawks can be the same size as large female sharp-shinned hawks. The upperparts are blue-grey (the former darker). Here are some interesting things I have been learning as I have read about the “Sharpie”. The chart below shows the numbers of Sharp-shinned Hawks that have been counted at the Picatinny Peak, Raccoon Ridge, Scott’s Mountain, Sunrise Mountain, and Wildcat Ridge hawk watches in Northwest New Jersey. 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