When do sharp-shinned hawks arrive in Montana?
The Sharp-shinned Hawk is a summer breeder in Montana — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
Sharp-shinned Hawk timing in Montana
- Arrives
- Around April
- Leaves
- By July
- Status here
- Summer breeder
- Nesting season
- May–June
- Present roughly
- April–July
In Montana, sharp-shinned hawks are present through the warm months, arriving around April and heading south again by July.
These windows are set by latitude: Montana sits in the northern part of this species' range, so timing here runs later than the continental average — the season starts later this far north and the birds wait for it. In any given year, weather can move the first arrivals by a week or two either way.
Month by month in this state
Highlighted months are when sharp-shinned hawks are expected in Montana. The edges of the window are the interesting weeks — first arrivals and last departures vary most from year to year.
Getting ready before they arrive
The week before April is the time to act. Have feeders cleaned, filled and out by early April — the first sharp-shinned hawks into Montana are scouting for reliable food, and a station that's ready early gets added to their route.
Once nesting begins around May, adults switch to protein-rich food for their young and visits to feeders become quick and purposeful. Expect the busiest activity at dawn.
What sharp-shinned hawks eat while they're here
- Warblers, sparrows and finches
A winter regular at busy feeders; dense shrub cover near feeding areas gives small birds an escape route.
Full Sharp-shinned Hawk diet guide → · Best feeder for sharp-shinned hawks →
Native plants that hold sharp-shinned hawks in Montana
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These Montana-native plants are known to attract sharp-shinned hawks:
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do sharp-shinned hawks arrive in Montana?
sharp-shinned hawks typically arrive in Montana around April, with nesting underway by May. Timing can shift a week or two with the weather in any given year.
When do sharp-shinned hawks leave Montana?
Most sharp-shinned hawks have left Montana by July. They spend the winter farther south and return the following spring.
Do sharp-shinned hawks stay in Montana all year?
No — in Montana the Sharp-shinned Hawk is a summer breeder, present roughly April–July. Outside that window it is rarely seen in the state.
What should I put out before sharp-shinned hawks arrive in Montana?
Have feeders up and clean by early April — first arrivals scout reliable food sources. Good offerings for this species: warblers, sparrows and finches.
Sources
- Sharp-shinned Hawk — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Sharp-shinned Hawk life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Sharp-shinned Hawk — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Montana
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.