Hawks and eagles (Accipitridae)
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Accipiter striatus. Almost entirely small songbirds, taken on the wing.
Hawks and eagles (Accipitridae)Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatus
- Scientific name
- Accipiter striatus
- Length
- 9.4–13.4 in
- Weight
- 3.1–7.7 oz
- Nest
- Stick platform deep in dense conifers
- Entrance hole
- Does not use nest boxes
- Clutch
- 3–8 eggs
- Incubation
- 30–35 days
- Broods
- 1 per season
Identification
- Small hawk with blue-grey back and orange-barred breast
- Long, square-tipped tail
- Tiny head and spindly legs
Voice
High, rapid 'kik-kik-kik', mostly near the nest.
Diet and feeding
Almost entirely small songbirds, taken on the wing.
What do sharp-shinned hawks eat? · Best feeder for sharp-shinned hawks
Sharp-shinned Hawks by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Winter visitor | — |
| Alaska | Year-round resident | May–June |
| Alberta | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Arizona | Winter visitor | — |
| Arkansas | Winter visitor | — |
| British Columbia | Summer breeder | May–June |
| California | Summer breeder | March–June |
| Colorado | Summer breeder | April–June |
| Connecticut | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Delaware | Winter visitor | — |
| Florida | Winter visitor | — |
| Georgia | Winter visitor | — |
| Idaho | Summer breeder | April–June |
| Illinois | Winter visitor | — |
| Indiana | Winter visitor | — |
| Iowa | Winter visitor | — |
| Kansas | Winter visitor | — |
| Kentucky | Winter visitor | — |
| Louisiana | Winter visitor | — |
| Maine | Year-round resident | May–June |
| Manitoba | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Maryland | Winter visitor | — |
| Massachusetts | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Michigan | Winter visitor | — |
| Minnesota | Winter visitor | — |
| Mississippi | Winter visitor | — |
| Missouri | Winter visitor | — |
| Montana | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Nebraska | Winter visitor | — |
| Nevada | Summer breeder | April–June |
| New Brunswick | Summer breeder | May–June |
| New Hampshire | Year-round resident | May–June |
| New Jersey | Year-round resident | April–June |
| New Mexico | Winter visitor | — |
| New York | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Summer breeder | May–June |
| North Carolina | Winter visitor | — |
| North Dakota | Winter visitor | — |
| Northwest Territories | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Nova Scotia | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Ohio | Winter visitor | — |
| Oklahoma | Winter visitor | — |
| Ontario | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Oregon | Summer breeder | April–June |
| Pennsylvania | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Prince Edward Island | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Quebec | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Rhode Island | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Saskatchewan | Summer breeder | May–June |
| South Carolina | Winter visitor | — |
| South Dakota | Winter visitor | — |
| Tennessee | Winter visitor | — |
| Texas | Winter visitor | — |
| Utah | Summer breeder | April–June |
| Vermont | Year-round resident | May–June |
| Virginia | Winter visitor | — |
| Washington | Summer breeder | April–June |
| West Virginia | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Wisconsin | Winter visitor | — |
| Wyoming | Summer breeder | May–June |
| Yukon | Summer breeder | May–June |
Frequently asked
What do sharp-shinned hawks eat?
Almost entirely small songbirds, taken on the wing. At feeders: none — it hunts live prey at feeders.
How big is a Sharp-shinned Hawk?
9.4–13.4 in long and 3.1–7.7 oz.
Do sharp-shinned hawks use birdhouses?
No. Stick platform deep in dense conifers.
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
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.