Sharp-shinned Hawk at Amico Island, Delran, NJ, on March 14, 2019.

Small hawk with relatively short rounded wings. Adults are gray above with pale orange barring below; immatures are browner and streaky. Very similar to Cooper's Hawk, especially in plumage, but smaller overall with smaller head, more squared-off tail, and more petite feet. Also note quicker, snappier wingbeats. Breeds in extensive forests. Feeds mainly on birds captured in flight. Often stalks feeders in search of prey.

Images taken by hoan luong is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Keep an eye on the sky. These stunning birds are worth scoping out. Learn how to identify 9 different types of hawks found in North America.

Sharp-shinned (Accipiter striatus) and Cooper’s (Astur cooperii) hawks commonly prey on feeder birds, and they are frequently reported by FeederWatchers. Despite their common occurrence, these hawks present a significant identification problem for many beginning and intermediate (and even more advanced!) birders. There is great variation in plumage and in size for these two species. Therefore, […]

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Cooper’s hawk vs Sharp-shinned hawk / Épervier de Cooper vs Épervier brun

Among the bird world’s most skillful fliers, Cooper’s Hawks are common woodland hawks that tear through cluttered tree canopies in high speed pursuit of other birds. You’re most likely to see one prowling above a forest edge or field using just a few stiff wingbeats followed by a glide. With their smaller lookalike, the Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawks make for famously tricky identifications. Both species are sometimes unwanted guests at bird feeders, looking for an easy meal (but not one of sunflower seeds).

It is often difficult to identify immature or juvenile Sharp-shinned (accipiter striatus) vs Cooper's Hawks (accipiter cooperii). This composite of the two birds, both photographed on the same fence (2 inch picket width), but at different times, points out some of the more obvious differences. The bird on the left is most likely a male sharpie based on his small size while the bird on the right is most likely a female Cooper's. A female Sharpie would be closer to the same size as a male Cooper's. Notice the thin legs for which the Sharpie is named.

Soaring in the sky or perched on a wire, these fantastic pictures of hawks captured by our readers will take your breath away.

Learn what a Cooper's hawk looks like, sounds like, and where to find one. Plus find out where this raptor prefers to nest.

Soaring in the sky or perched on a wire, these fantastic pictures of hawks captured by our readers will take your breath away.

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Use expert tips and a helpful chart to improve your hawk identification skills. Plus, learn about the common types of hawks you may see.