Accipiter striatus

Description

A slim and small-bodied hawk. The sharp-shinned hawk has a slim tail and short-rounded wings. In flight, has several quick wingbeats and then glides. Adults are slate-gray on their backs and are rusty-barred underneath.

Voice

A shrill kik,kik,kik.

Habitat

They are found in mixed woods, thickets, and evergreen forests.

Diet

These hawks’ diets consist almost entirely on small birds, occasionally eat small mammals and reptiles.

Range

Sharp-shinned hawks can be found throughout most of the entire continent of North America, with the exception of parts of the Dakotas, Montana, and a few of the neighboring states.

Other Useful Information

Once young sharp-shinned hawks can fly, the mother will feed the young by “tossing” them their food midair.

Similar Species

Cooper's hawk