THE SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 



By EDWARD HOWE FORBUSH 



^^t i^ational Si&Qociation ot Audubon Societies 



EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET NO. 37 



We can say much in favor of most land birds, but the Sharp-shinned Hawk 

 is an exception to the rule. From the standpoint of the utilitarian, it must be 

 regarded as bad, and even vicious. It is a bold marauder, and, judged by the 

 standard of the poultryman, the game-keeper, the sportsman, or the bird-pro- 

 tectionist, it is a convicted felon. Its trade is battle, murder and sudden death, 

 and, unfortunately, the greater number oi its victims are the weak and defenceless 

 young of game birds and ])oultry, and the beautiful and useful .songsters of field, 

 farm, grove, orchard and forest. 



This small bird is one of a group of "ignoble" Hawks, — 

 Kindred the Accipiters — which may be distinguished from the Sparrow- 



Hawk, Pigeon-Hawk and other Falcons by their comparatively 

 short, rounded wings and their long tails. The Falcons have a slightly shorter 

 tail and long, pointed wings. The Buteos, or Buzzards, have long, broad wings 

 and a broad tail, and often soar in circles; Init the Accijjiters move across the 

 country by alternately Happing and sailing. The Sharp-shinned Hawk is the 

 smallest of the Accipiters, and is sometimes wrongly called the Sparrow-Hawk 

 or Pigeon-Hawk. In general appearance and haljits, it resembles two larger 

 species, Cooper's Hawk and the American Goshawk. Cooper's Hawk is next 

 in size to the Sharp-shinned Hawk, and the two are much alike in a])pearance. 

 The adults of each species in some parts of the countrv are known as "Blue Dart- 

 ers.' These three species, because of their numbers, wide distribution, and great 

 rapacity, probably commit greater and more widespread havoc among birds and 

 game than any other Hawks in North America. The larger i)ernicious Falcons 

 are generally far less common than the Accipiters, and the Buzzard Hawks 

 and Marsh Hawks are generally more useful than injurious to man. 



The Shar])-shinned Hawk is larger than either the Sj)arrow Hawk or the 

 Pigeon-Hawk, and is rather longer and slimmer. Specimens average a little 

 over a fool in length. The largest specimens are about two inches smaller than 

 the smallest specimens of the Cooper's Hawk. The plumage at full maturity 

 is usually slaty or bluish gray above; the under j)arts are whitish, barred and 

 marked with reddish. Immature birds are brown above and streaked with dark 

 brown or reddish brown below. The tail is sfjuare-tippcd and somewhat heavily 

 barred. 



The distribution of this Hawk is nearly co-extensive with the 

 Range continent of North America. It l)reetls ihrougliout most of the 



United States and Canada, and winters from the latitude of Massa- 

 chusetts to Central America. In Se])tember, numbers of these Hawks may be 



(94) 



