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Migrating Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)

Posted on Oct 30, 2014

Here’s an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) that I recently photographed in the middle of migration, passing directly overhead from our hawk watching position. It is looking straight forward while powering down the coastline on a stiff northwest wind. Perhaps it will spend part of its journey or the winter using a bird feeder as a hunting area. While this may not be what many birders like to read these raptors are hungry birds, too. Young hawks have very high mortality rates and 8 or 9 out of 10 birds will die in their first year with migration, starvation and even predation high on the list of causes.

Sharp-shinned Hawk in flight-0464

Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation & Outreach Coordinator