I’ve been seeing so many Sharpies (as I like to call them) lately that it just makes sense for this raptor to be our very first Bird Of The Week! Let’s learn more about it!

The Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) is a fascinating bird of prey with numerous interesting aspects to its biology, behavior, and ecology. Here are some fun and intriguing facts about the species:

1. Smallest Hawks in North America: Sharp-shinned Hawks are the smallest hawks in North America. Males are particularly diminutive, often measuring only about 9 to 11 inches in length, which is roughly the size of a large songbird.
2. Aerial Agility: These hawks are incredibly agile flyers. They have short, rounded wings and a long tail that help them maneuver through dense forests and woodland while hunting for birds and small mammals.
3. Mimicry in Flight: Their flying style, which includes a series of flaps followed by a glide, resembles that of a pigeon. This mimicry may help them get closer to their prey unnoticed.
4. Diet Specialization: They are highly specialized bird hunters. While they do occasionally eat small mammals, insects, and reptiles, their primary prey includes small birds.
5. Breeding and Nesting: Sharp-shinned Hawks build their nests out of twigs, usually in dense trees or shrubs. They are known for their secretive nesting behavior, making their nests difficult to find.
6. Migration: Many Sharp-shinned Hawks are migratory, traveling long distances between their breeding grounds in Canada and the northern United States to wintering areas as far south as Central America.
7. Skillful Hunters: They often hunt by stealth, using cover to approach their prey unnoticed before making a quick and powerful strike. Their hunting success relies on surprise and speed.
8. Sexual Dimorphism: There is a significant size difference between male and female Sharp-shinned Hawks, with females being up to one-third larger. This size difference allows pairs to exploit different prey sizes, reducing competition for food.
9. Appearance: Juvenile hawks are dull tan and brown in color with a bright yellow eye. Adult birds become slate grey or blue on the back with a rust colored breast feathers, and a red eye.
10. Adaptability: Despite their preference for dense woodlands, Sharp-shinned Hawks have adapted to human environments. They can often be seen hunting around bird feeders, taking advantage of the concentration of small birds.

There is no question that the Sharpies I’m seeing are here for one reason…I have a lot of small bird activity in the backyard. The hawks are smart and they know birds will come into the feeders and hang out. What’s interesting is when a hawk is around, all the other birds “disappear”. It gets eerily quiet and still…and I have seen some birds, like woodpeckers literally freeze on the side of a tree…they won’t move until the hawk leaves.

Some people don’t like hawks because they prey on other birds. But that’s what Mother Nature intended for them to do. I’m OK with that. And don’t worry, the other birds are well adapted to dealing with a hawk like this and they’ve evolved together over thousands of years to each play their role in the balance of the backyard.. The healthy and adept birds will do just fine, even with a hawk around.

So there you have it, the Sharp-shinned Hawk is a great species to get to know better!