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Sharp Shinned Hawk Zone 5 Mass

desperationfalls

16 years ago

I couldn't understand why nary a bird (the usual titmouse, nuthatch, juncos, dwny woodpecker, etc) showed up at the feeders in the bushes outside my back door yesterday morning. But, around 11:30 a.m. it all made sense when a

very small (about 10 inch total head to end of tail) hawk came and perched about 6 feet from my window and sat there for about half an hour. Unfortunately, my s.o. had taken the camera on his trip out to Seattle, and I had to settle for the old videocamera and my cell phone camera to

get some footage. I had originally thought this to be a Cooper's hawk, but changed my mind to a sharp shinned because of size. Was a treat, though I would like my little birds back

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Comments (7)

rachel_frome_ky
16 years ago
Too bad you didn't have a camera-such a rare opportunity 2 photograph a beautiful hawk.
Of course, helps to make sure your feeder birds have plenty of cover; bushes, brush piles, trees, anything where they can hide and avoid capture
desperationfalls
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, Rachel! (It is quite an honor to get a posting from you--I've followed yours + fabulous photos for years!)
We have plenty of cover with lots of 10-12 foot tall andromedas,rhodos, azaleas, etc.
Husband could not understand how a hawk could make time from such a low hanging (about 6 feet above the ground) branch. We always thought they had to swoop down from above! (Once saw a redtail hawk and squirrel sitting on the same branch about 7 feet apart. Thought the squirrel was just taunting the hawk!)
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harryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania
16 years ago
I have had a Sharp Shinned Hawk in my yard for the last few years. They are quite impressive when hunting.

{{gwi:223314}}
rachel_frome_ky
16 years ago
Thank you for the kind comments!
Birds quickly learn to recognize when predators are in "hunting mode" or not, sometimes reminding me of Wile E. Coyote vs sheepdog cartoons where the sheepdog and coyote punch into work, greet each other, have coffee, then at the whistle start harassing each other. I've seen a Sharp-shinned Hawk waking up at dawn in the top of a tree next to Northern Flickers, bluebirds, etc. They'd all stretch and preen within a few feet of each other, then the hawk would fly off. After about 30 minutes when the other birds had begun feeding the hawk would come back, skimming low over the field, then go into pursuit of some terrified flicker.

Wow..love the Sharpie photo
desperationfalls
Original Author
16 years ago
Harryshoe, thanks for the excellent photo. Yep! that's the guy. Kind of makes your heart stop beating when you see one of these birds for the first time. Can't believe it is real!
harryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania
16 years ago
I took that picture through my bedroom window last winter. I think someone from this Forum enhanced the image for me. Can't remember who, but thanks. I love my Sharpy pic! There are few animals more impressive than a falcon. Or more efficient at killing.
hosenemesis
16 years ago
Wonderful photo, Harryshoe.
We have a finch feeder that we call the Sharpie feeder.
Today he took a finch not ten feet from where I was mulching my roses.
Renee

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