The Sharp-shinned Hawk is a small, agile forest hawk found year-round in parts of Arizona, though most commonly seen during migration and in winter. Adults are compact raptors with short, rounded wings and a long, square-tipped tail; males average 9–11 inches in length, females slightly larger at 11–14 inches. Adults show blue-gray upperparts, pale underparts with fine reddish barring, and red eyes, while juveniles are brown above with streaky, buffy underparts and yellow eyes. In Arizona, Sharp-shinned Hawks breed primarily in high-elevation coniferous and mixed forests of the Mogollon Rim, White Mountains, and Sky Islands. During fall migration, they move through lowland areas, often seen at hawk watch sites and in urban backyards hunting small birds near feeders. Their primary prey is small songbirds, taken with sudden, fast attacks through dense cover. Although populations declined in the mid-20th century due to pesticide use, they have since rebounded, and the species is currently listed as Least Concern.
