SHARP-SHINNED HAWK Accipiter striatus

Family ACCIPITRIDAE - Subfamily Accipitrinae
Size: Small hawk 9-13 in. Wingspan: 17-22 in. Weight: 3.07-7.7 ounces. Tail long, barred, and ends with a square tip. Wings short and rounded. Adults with blue-gray back and wings, reddish barring on underparts. Crown and back similar in color. Eyes red. Undertail coverts white. Toes long and yellow.
Habitat Nests in forests, usually with conifers. Generally not present in small woodlots and open areas. Winters in larger variety of habitats, including urban and suburban areas
Eggs White to bluish white, some marked with splotches of brown. Usually 4-5 eggs. Range: 3-8
Nesting Nests built in mature trees against trunk, supported by one or more large branches and generally shaded from above. Males may show a high degree of territory fidelity, with several old nests located within a small area. Height: 20 - 60 feet. Nest a substantial platform of large, often fresh, twigs broken from branches. Center lined with bark chips. Males assist in building the nest.

Range Breeds from central Alaska, throughout most of Canada, south to the northern states and through the Appalachians to northern Alabama, in the East. Largely absent through much of the Midwest and the Great Plains. Breeds locally throughout western United States, south through central Mexico and Central America. Also in Caribbean and much of South America.
Winters along coast from southern Alaska southward, and from southern Canada through most of the United States.

. Discussion The Sharp-shinned Hawk is listed as a species of concern in several states and provinces. Although migration-count data have indicated a decline in populations, breeding survey data indicate an increase. Like most raptors, this species is poorly monitored and its precise habitat requirements are poorly known. In particular, understanding its sensitivity to forest fragmentation and various land-use practices will be important for conserving future populations.