Sharp-shinned Hawk
Accipiter striatus
A jay-sized woodland hawk with a small head, squared tail, and pencil-thin legs.
What to look for
- 01
Small, rounded head that barely projects past the wings in flight
- 02
Tail tip squared or notched, with a narrow white edge
- 03
Dark hood running evenly down the nape, without a capped contrast
- 04
Very slender legs — the 'sharp shins' of the name
Where it lives
Dense woodland and forest edge, moving through yards and parks especially in migration and winter.
How it moves
Flies with quick, snappy flaps between short glides, threading through cover after small songbirds. Migrates in numbers along ridges and coastlines.
Common lookalikes
Cooper's hawks are larger with a blocky, far-projecting head, a rounded tail tip, and a capped crown. No single mark is decisive — combine head projection, tail shape, and proportions.
Observe responsibly
Watch from a distance and keep clear of nests. As with any accipiter, brief views are common; record uncertainty rather than forcing an identification.
No danger to people. Leave injured raptors to a licensed rehabilitator.
Widespread, with populations that rebounded after DDT-era declines; migration counts are a long-running way of tracking them.
Get Fauna and identify it in the field.
Where this guide comes from
Sources are linked below. Field marks vary with age, sex, season, region, light, and viewing distance.
