The Sharp-shinned Hawk is the smallest hawk in North America and a specialist predator of small songbirds, hunting them in dense shrubs and forest understories with quick, agile maneuvering on short, rounded wings. It is the most numerous hawk at hawkwatch sites in fall migration, with thousands passing on peak days. Its square tail distinguishes it from the rounded tail of the very similar Cooper's Hawk.
Best time to see a Sharp-shinned Hawk
The best time to see a Sharp-shinned Hawk is September–January, when about 65% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 16,355 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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