Sharp Shinned Hawk

By David

    Did you know all birds have feathers and beaks? Most can fly and all of them lay hard-shelled eggs. They have two wings and two feet. Birds have a better sense of sight even better then some humans.

       The Sharp Shinned hawk or "sharpie" is the smallest bird in North America . It is mostly found in lush green forests. They are sometimes found in urban areas snatching birds of bird-feeders.

        The adult is easy to recognize.  It has blood-red eyes and a black cap.   Unlike the younger one it has yellow eyes and a brown head with indistinct pale supercilium. (eyebrow) The Sharpie has a wingspan of 21 inches.   It has a short, dark hooked  beak.

         The sharp shinned hawk has an interesting habitat it lives in mixed forests or forest openings and bushy areas.  They mostly eat small birds such as songbirds, sparrows, finches, and warblers; some medium sized birds.  They eat small animals such as mice, shrews, and voles.  They eat small amphibians such as frogs, lizards, and large insects.