It is a Sharp-shinned hawk. It's an adult hawk, at least three years old, maybe a little bit older.

Consider not feeding the prey birds for now. : (

A sharp-shinned hawk? I'm in Saskatchewan and they aren't suppose to be here in the winter that's why I thought it was a merlin. He's been around for about a month.

Take a look.

Here is a link that might be useful: SSHA

Similar lookings birds,..have you got another shot, front, Joan?

Merlin has dark eyes ..not this one.
Nice shot!

This post was edited by konrad___far_north on Fri, Mar 29, 13 at 2:55

Merlins are falcons, sharpies are accipiters, so there is considerable physical and behavioral differences.

Both are great birds to see!

Sharpies breed north.

Here is a link that might be useful: sharpie range map

This post was edited by elly_nj on Wed, Mar 27, 13 at 7:29

Have many different hawks around here.When was raising Viszla -had puppies out of kennel.Red tailed dove out to grab one.Had hoe and threw at it.Big time fine if I killed it. That pup are Vet had picked out.Told one reason kennels have tops on.Lot of $$$$ pups taken.

Yup, definitely a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Great photo!

BN

The range map shows them here only in the summer so that's why I'm wondering how it can be a sharpie. Anyway, he was here again this morning. My neighbour was witness to the carnage this time. I've moved the feeders to my backyard, closer to my deck and right next to a bush. Hopefully, that will deter him. I have never had this problem before so not sure what to do. This is very upsetting to see.

My poor redpolls keep coming to the tree where the feeders used to be. They haven't found the new location yet. I'm terrified that the hawk will be back again.

we have a hawk who comes into our yard occasionally. If we aren't home to see what's happening, we know he's been there by the pile of feathers he leaves behind. And we are in a busy suburban neighborhood.I hate it, but luckily he usually only takes doves, which we have more than enough around. That's a really good pic btw.

Don't worry too much. If you feed birds in your yard, you will undoubtedly at some point attract the predators that feed on those birds. I actually enjoy watching Sharp-shinned Hawks hunt birds in my yard. It is amazing how many times they come up empty and miss birds. Birds are adapted to dealing with raptors...if they do get caught, chances are it is a bird that was weak for some reason (disease, malnutrition, old age, etc.). If you really don't like having the hawk around, I would take down your feeders and let the birds disperse.

Sharp-shinned Hawks are wintering much further north in the last 20 years or so compared to historically. Much of that is thought to be due to bird feeders.

BN

It is nature`s way of striking a balance. The redpolls have evolved with the hawks and although it may be upsetting to watch, it is necessary for the overall health of the flock. I also have a resident SSH that cruises through the yard and whose main target this winter is the flock of redpolls- amazing fliers - I can`t believe the small little openings in the trees it can navigate through at lightning speed - and yes, it does miss from time to time. The redpolls scatter frantically but return and carry on as everything must.

Hawks hunt near bird feeders for the same reason lions hunt near water holes. That's where higher than usual concentrations of prey can be reliably found.

If it upsets you to see hawks catching and eating birds, stop luring the seed-eating birds to their doom with feeders.

I'm another raptor-watcher that agrees this is certainly an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter tail, grey nape, red iris, among other field marks).

I have a brand new Crossley Raptor ID Guide (Crossley/Liguori/Sullivan) that indicates the most recent range map for Sharpies includes southern Saskatchewan for the winter and further north in Saskatchewan for the summer. Sharpies are rarely encountered during the summer so it would actually be more likely to see one during the cold season (based on their remote breeding locations).

I checked eBird and found one Sharpie sighting reported this winter near Saskatoon. So I don't believe it's very common in your range to see one.

On a side note, Merlins are not backyard feeder visitors.

Very cool sighting on the Sharpie! Bummer about the Redpoll.

This post was edited by TMFF on Thu, Mar 28, 13 at 9:49

I'm glad to hear that it is rare for them to be here in the summer as I get lots of goldfinches and siskins at my feeders. The redpolls have now found the new location; hopefully, it is safer for them. I wish the sharpie would target the house sparrows. Last winter I had about 50 house sparrows in my yard; didn't see any hawk then. HOSP would be a more ample meal you would think. There are lots of HOSP around. Why don't they target them?

I don`t have a problem with HOSP but I was really hoping for some surprise attacks on neighbourhood cats - alas - to no avail!

shillanorth- Great-horned Owls have been known to take cats at night. Perhaps..... ;-)

joan754- I am no expert on feeder behavior but my first inclination is to say that Common Redpolls (being arctic breeders) have a lack of familiarity with feeder-stalkers such as Sharpies, so perhaps they don't "get the memo" when the raptor is near.

Shillanorth - Predators will not attack prey that is too big for them. Sharp-shinned hawks weight less than a half-pound. Attacking a cat of 5-10 pounds would be suicidal for the bird, and merely annoy the cat.

Red-tailed hawks, Great Horned owls, and eagles (bald or golden) are the only birds big enough to take on feral cats with success.

And when they show up people get upset because it's eating bunnies or their chickens or they are afraid it will carry away a toddler.