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Birds of Zihuatanejo

CLASS AVES

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Birds (Class Aves)

-Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies (Order Accipitriformes)

-Hawks, Eagles, and Kites (Family Accipitridae)

-Typical Hawks and Harriers (Subfamily Accipitrinae)

-True Accipiters (Genus Accipiter)

-Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)


The Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) is a small, acrobatic hawk known for its long tail and short, rounded wings, which it uses to hunt songbirds in dense woodlands. Adults are blue-gray above and have rusty-red barring on their underparts, while juveniles have brown upperparts and reddish-brown streaks on creamy underparts. They are agile fliers that use a flap-and-glide style, often speeding through dense woods to ambush prey. They are active hunters during the day and are sometimes seen perching and scanning for prey or pouncing from low vantage points.

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

Diet

  • Primarily small birds, including sparrows, warblers, finches, doves, and hummingbirds.

  • Also eats small mammals such as mice, bats, and shrews.

  • Occasionally takes lizards, frogs, and large insects.

  • Hunts by making fast, agile flights through forests or launching surprise attacks from concealed perches.

Range

  • Breeds across Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central America, and parts of the Caribbean.

  • Northern populations migrate south for the winter, while populations in Mexico and Central America are largely resident.

  • Found throughout Mexico, including Guerrero and the Zihuatanejo region, especially during the winter migration.

  • Occupies forests, woodland edges, pine-oak forests, riparian woodlands, and occasionally suburban parks and gardens.

Male / Female

  • Male: Smaller, weighing about 90–150 g; bluish-gray upperparts with finely barred orange-rufous underparts.

  • Female: Significantly larger (about one-third larger than the male), weighing 150–220 g; similar plumage but bulkier with a broader chest and more powerful build.

  • Both sexes have red to orange eyes as adults, long tails with square tips, and short, rounded wings. Size is the most reliable way to distinguish the sexes.

Size

  • Length: 24–34 cm (9.5–13.5 in)

  • Wingspan: 42–64 cm (16.5–25 in)

  • Weight:

    • Male: 90–150 g

    • Female: 150–220 g

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