# How to Spot a Sharp-Shinned Hawk

> Identify this small hawk's field marks, habitat, and hunting habits for backyard spotting.
- Title: How to Spot a Sharp-Shinned Hawk · Birds and Blooms | Shortify
- Summary: Identify this small hawk's field marks, habitat, and hunting habits for backyard spotting. Sharp-shinned hawks are 10-13 inches long with blue-gray upper…
- Keywords: sharp-shinned hawk, blue jay, cooper's hawk, nesting habits, hunting behavior, bird feeder, fall migration, Spot, Sharp-Shinned, Hawk, Birds and Blooms
- Source: Birds and Blooms — https://birdsandblooms.com/birding/bird-species/birds-of-prey/sharp-shinned-hawk
- Author: Jill Staake
- Published: 2026-10-13T18:14:56+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: sharp-shinned hawk, blue jay, cooper's hawk, nesting habits, hunting behavior, bird feeder, fall migration
## What Does a Sharp-Shinned Hawk Look Like?
Sharp-shinned hawks are 10-13 inches long with blue-gray upper sides, red-orange breast bars, and white above the tail.
## Size and Shape Differences
Females are much larger than males; sharp-shinned hawks have skinny legs and small heads that often look 'tucked in'.
## Hunting Behavior
These hawks hunt small to medium songbirds, which make up 90 percent of their diet, often near backyard feeders in winter.
## Nesting Habits
Sharp-shinned hawks nest deep in woods, building shallow nests 1 to 2 feet across under foliage, with females incubating eggs for 30-35 days.
## Fall Migration Patterns
Each fall, sharp-shinned hawks fly south to establish winter populations in the southern U.S. and Central America.
## Cape May Hawkwatch
Cape May Point State Park tracks hawks daily from sunrise to 5 p.m. during Sept. 1-Nov. 30, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026.
## Key takeaway

Sharp-shinned hawks are 10-13 inches long with blue-gray upper sides, red-orange breast bars, and white above the tail.