Sharp-shinned Hawk
Learn to identify the Sharp-shinned Hawk by ear. Master the "kik-kik-kik-kik" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.
What the Sharp-shinned Hawk sounds like
The Sharp-shinned Hawk is North America’s smallest accipiter, a swift, stealthy woodland raptor built for surprise attacks on unsuspecting songbirds. With short rounded wings and a long, narrow tail it maneuvers through dense canopy like a feathered missile, bursting from cover to snatch prey in mid-air.
“kik-kik-kik-kik”
How to tell it apart
Lessons featuring the Sharp-shinned Hawk
Ready to test your ear? Practice identifying the Sharp-shinned Hawk's sounds in this interactive in-app lesson.
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Where you'll hear it
Prefers coniferous and mixed deciduous forests, forest edges, shelterbelts, and wooded suburbs. Often seen in migration along ridges and coastlines.
Long-distance migrant: northern breeders depart August-October and return March-May. Southern mountain populations are resident or make short elevational movements.
Similar species
Cooper’s Hawk
Sharp-shinned smaller with proportionally shorter head that rarely projects beyond wings in flight.
Merlin
Falcon with pointed wings vs. rounded in Sharp-shinned.
American Kestrel
Much smaller falcon with rusty back and tail.