Sharp-shinned Hawk is one handsome accipiter

There are general characteristics of the accipiter that apply equally to each member of the group. They all have short, well-rounded wings. They live and hunt in wooded, brushy areas. They feed primarily on other birds.

The wings of these hawks enable them to dart and maneuver quickly with silent deftness through limbs and over tops of bushes in search of smaller, often unsuspecting songbirds. The prey is captured in sharp talons either off a perch or in flight. And though this may reflect what some might see as the cruel side of nature, it more appropriately depicts nature's way of balancing itself. The accipiter merely keeps populations in check as well as eliminating the weaker members of these other species.

The sharp-shinned hawk is a handsome bird. It is only 10 to 14 inches in length ? not big for a predator. Its head is topped with black, cheeks splashed with rust, and the chin is white with fine streaks. The back of this small raptor is a stunning blue-gray and its chest is heavily, but finely barred with reddish-brown. The tail is long with white banding and squared off at the end.

All accipiters have white undertails. The sharp-shinned hawk has particularly long, thin yellow legs from which its name is derived. The immature members of this species tend to be brown-backed with a heavily streaked cream colored chest. This does, at times, add to the confusion of identifying this hawk.

Affectionately known as the "sharpie" by adoring fans, it can be seen practically anywhere in our area. Often it can be encountered along the river bottoms where much bird life congregates. Also, it does tend to migrate along the river systems in the fall searching for other migrating birds to sustain its journey. Some will actually spend the winter in our towns because of feeders filled with small birds.

Nature provides for efficient predation in all shapes and sizes. One of the smallest is the sharp-shinned hawk.