What does the Sharp-shinned Hawk eat?

The Sharp-shinned Hawk's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

Carnivore (primarily small birds, occasionally small mammals, insects, or reptiles)

How it forages

A highly skilled aerial predator, it hunts by perching inconspicuously within dense cover and making swift, surprise attacks on small birds. It also hunts by flying low and fast through vegetation, flushing prey. Prey is typically caught in flight or snatched from branches. They pluck feathers from prey before consumption.

When it feeds

Diurnal.

Explore the Sharp-shinned Hawk