North American Bird Search Box
This search box can be used to find bird species using bird's english, french or latin name, or to identify bird by its 4 letter Alpha Code
Field Guide for all the Birds of North America
Sharp-shinned Hawk
4 Letter (english names) Alpha Code: SSHA (1)
Épervier brun
Accipiter striatus
Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities
Species: The Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) is the smallest member of the accipiter family. Known as a bird of the northern taiga, it is common as far north as to the treeline. This grackle-sized hawk preys on mostly small birds, sometimes eating small animals, rodents and insects. Similar in appearance to the larger Cooper's Hawk (another member of the accipiter family), having the same bluish-grey back and orange coloured barred breast.
Distinctions: The males and females are similar in appearance, females are larger than male birds. Adults have bluish-gray backs, orange coloured barred breast, having red eyes. Appears to have a small head, which seems hidden by its wings when seen in flight. Wings are short and rounded, long square tail, showing at least three equal size bands, appears to have a center notch when folded. The juvenile is brown with breast streaks and yellow eyes.
Voice: Repeated cries, what one would expect from a bird of prey, silent most times, unless disturbed around its nest.
Nesting: two to three whitish-blue eggs, with brown spots, one brood per year. Usually, builds its nest in a conifer, hunts in coniferous, deciduous or mixed forest.
Life, Habitat and Pictures of North American Hawks
| B L | W W | W | Family | Latin Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11" 27.9cm | 23" 58.4cm | 5oz 141.8g | Accipitridae | Accipiter striatus |
- Summer
- Year Around
- Winter
Distribution: Breeds throughout all the forests in Canada during the summer months. Lives and breeds in some western and eastern locations of the USA all year around. Seen from Newfoundland and Labrador, west to central British Columbia, south to southern California, all the way east, to the southern tip of Florida in non-breeding season.
References to Other Bird Sites:
Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.
ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.
I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.