Sharp-shinned Hawk
(Accipiter striatus)
Short wings and log tail enable this bird to maneuver quickly in heavy cover. As an ambush predator it prefers wooded areas where it can hunt for small birds.
Weather
being a key factor in the migration the best time to see a sharp-shin
in the north eastern United States is in late April (spring) or
late September (fall).
These
in-flight photos were taken at the Raccoon Ridge hawk watch
after a week of continuous rain. When the sun finally warmed the
landscape large numbers of these birds headed to their favorite
wintering grounds.
Sharp-shinned
hawks, similar in size to an American robin are often mistaken
for the larger Cooper’s hawk. When trying to identify one of
these birds it is best to use size, shape, field marks and behavior.
The
first image shows a squired off tail and tucked in head. From
a distance the outline of this bird will appear to
be the shape of the letter “T” with only a small head visible. The
nick name “Shrugging sharpie” helps one to remember this. Another
nick name used for this bird is “Snappy sharpie” earned by its flap-flap-glide
flight pattern. This
bird will often fly with tail pointed up above the head as
shown in the second image.
Color
varies with these hawks. Young birds will have a white belly with
dark noodle like streaking as shown in the bird on the rock. Older
birds
will develop red or orange barring on the chest. With all ages
the banded square tail will often display a notch and can be
used to confirm the identification.
