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( Bildstein and Meyer, 2000 Sullivan, 1994) Causes of mortality include predators, hunting and collisions with cars and buildings. However, most do not live longer than 3 years. The longest recorded lifespan for a sharp-shinned hawk is 13 years. ( Bildstein and Meyer, 2000 Campbell, et al., 1990 Snyder and Snyder, 1991) Young continue to receive parental care for about 3.5 weeks after fledging. The nestlings fledge after 21 to 32 days. Females also defend the nest against predators.
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While the chicks are in the nest, the male brings food to the female who plucks it and feeds the chicks. After hatching, the altricial chicks are brooded by the female for 16 to 23 days. Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)įemale sharp-shinned hawks do most of the incubating, but males bring food to females while they are on the nest.Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male) 2 years.Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female).Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) 2 years.Breeding interval Sharp-shinned hawks usually have only one brood per year.Most sharp-shinned hawks begin to breed when they are two years old. Males usually fledge sooner than females. Females do most of the incubating, but males will bring food to females while they are on the nest. Incubation lasts 21 to 35 days, and the eggs hatch within one to two days of each other. Eggs are white or bluish with dark spots, approximately 37 by 30 mm and weigh about 9 g (approximately 11 percent of the female’s body mass). Females usually lay eggs on alternate days. Sharp-shinned hawks normally have only one brood per year and lay 4 to 5 eggs per clutch on average (range 3 to 8). The birds are territorial during the breeding season and defend their nest site against intruders. Nest sites are re-used from year to year and old nests are refurbished or new nests are built on top of old ones. Both the male and female gather nesting material, but the female does most of the building. The nests are made of twigs and are often lined with bark chips. Nests are built in trees, usually below the canopy (2.4 to 19 m above ground). Sharp-shinned hawks begin building their nests soon after they arrive at the breeding ground. The breeding season of sharp-shinned hawks corresponds with the time of maximum prey availability usually between late March and June. They are known to have courtship flights and are presumed to be monogamous. Range wingspan 53 to 65 cm 20.87 to 25.59 inĭue to the secretive nature of sharp-shinned hawks, little is known about their mating behavior.( Bildstein and Meyer, 2000 Gough, et al., 1998 Snyder and Snyder, 1991 Wheeler and Clark, 1995) Sharp-shinned hawks look similar to Cooper’s hawks ( Accipiter cooperii) but are smaller. Juveniles have more streaking and/or barring and paler coloration than adults. Molting does not change the adult’s appearance. Their tail is square-tipped when not spread and has three to five dark stripes with a small white stripe on the tip. Sharp-shinned hawks have a short, dark colored, hooked beak and yellow legs and feet. Females have fewer bars on the breast, and their upper parts are more brownish. Their underparts are white with brown bars and their short, rounded wings are dark above and light below.
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Sharp-shinned hawks have bluish-gray to slate colored upperparts, with darker coloration on the crown. Males have a wingspan of 53 to 56 cm and females 58 to 65 cm. Females are larger, measuring 29 to 34 cm in length and weighing 150 to 218 g. Males are 24 to 27 cm long and weigh 87 to 114 g. Sharp-shinned hawks are the smallest accipiters (bird hawks) in North America. ( Bildstein and Meyer, 2000 Campbell, et al., 1990 Snyder and Snyder, 1991 Sullivan, 1994) Sharp-shinned hawks can also be found near rural, suburban and agricultural areas, where they often hunt at bird feeders. They can be found hunting in forest interior and edges from sea level to near alpine areas. They are found in pine, fir and aspen forests (among others). Most of the North American populations migrate to the southern parts of their range in winter. In South America, they are found from Venezuela to northern Argentina. Sharp-shinned hawks can be found throughout much of North America, including Mexico.