Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)

The sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus) is distinguished from the goshawk by its rusty, barred breast markings and much smaller size (25-35 cm tall). This hawk has long, slender toes and talons, indicating a diet of predominantly small woodland birds supplemented with small rodents. Sharp-shinned hawks prefer to build their nests in conifers.  Unlike the goshawk, a new stick platform is constructed each year.  The female lays four to five eggs in late May.  The young birds grow rapidly and fledge approximately 23 days after hatching.

As fall approaches, the immature hawks begin the long migration to the wintering grounds in and south of Mexico.  The adults follow, and like other raptors, they migrate predominately during daylight hours.

The sharp-shinned hawk is uncommom.  Pesticides were responsible for widespread decline of this species between the 1960's and early 1980's.  Although this species has not been studied in the NWT, it has likely returned to its former levels of abundance.