Sharp-shinned Hawk: Little Blue Darter

Описание: The Sharp-shinned Hawk is a small, secretive accipiter (forest hawk), with common names ranging from “Sharpie,” and “Little Blue Darter,” to “Bird Hawk,” the latter a reference to its main source of prey. This is the most sexually dimorphic of all North American raptors, with the smaller male only little larger than a Blue Jay, while the larger female is closer to the size of Common Grackle.

An adult Sharp-shinned Hawk is barred rufous below with gray-blue upperparts and a blackish head and nape. Its eye color ranges from orange to a vivid dark red in older birds. Juveniles look very different from adults, brown above with a light colored, brown-streaked underside and yellow eyes. This bird’s characteristic shape -- short, rounded wings and long tail – is an excellent adaptation for hunting birds through thick forest understory.

The Sharp-shinned Hawk looks almost identical to another North American accipiter species, the Cooper’s Hawk, and telling the difference between the two can be a challenge. What are some ID features that can help differentiate the two species?

Read on to find out more: https://abcbirds.org/bird/sharp-shinn...