Sharp-shinned Hawk

Daphne

Daphne  Was transferred to CRC in May 2003, as an adult, from a vet clinic in Bend after surgery to repair a fractured metacarpus failed. The tip of the wing was amputated after the loss of circulation caused the bone to die. Although we do not know the original cause of her injury, these birds frequently hit windows or tangle in netting or fencing in pursuit of their avian prey. Her size indicates a female.

Unfortunately, it has become evident that the stress of being on display for six years has compromised Daphne's immune system. A chronic fungal infection in her beak that started several years ago has now caused us to re-evaluate the quality of life we can provide for this bird. Treatment for the infection would involve twice daily handling and restraint for oral and topical medication for three to six months - causing even more stress - and the condition very well might not respond to medication because the infection has clearly affected the germinating layers (the growth plate) of the beak. Reluctantly, we have made the decision that euthanasia was more humane than continued subjection to the stresses of captivity. Accipiter hawks are high stress birds and she came to us as an adult after another center had amputated a portion of her wing. Although she hid some aspects of her stress (at least she ate well and stayed in excellent feather condition), chronic stress, as with humans, can lead to suppression of the immune system and long term problems - and we just could not see adding to her stress with such a poor prognosis of success. Our thanks to everyone who has sponsored this bird. We'll miss her!

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)

The smallest of the North American accipiters, or forest hawks, the sharp-shinned had a reputation of being the enemy of all small birds before research made it clear that it has no deleterious effect on the populations of its prey species. With its long slender body, short rounded wings and long narrow tail, this bird can twist and turn and dart through and around all the obstacles of a dense forest - or warehouse, or other buildings, where its penchant for chasing small birds can frequently lead it.

Males average less than 60% of the size (by weight) of females, making it the most extremely size dimorphic of the raptors. Immature birds are a dark grey-brown on the back, with brown vertical streaking on a cream colored breast; the eyes are yellow and large for its relatively small head. The adult becomes more grey on its back, and the front turns to horizontal rufous barring on a creamy breast; and the eyes turn red/orange. The beak seems small for a raptor, but the long legs and long skinny toes with relatively short talons are the quintessential bird-catcher's feet; the tail has wide light bars alternating with narrow dark ones, and a squared off tip.

Notes

Size

Status - Protected under both state and federal laws; studied primarily on migration due to the difficulty of finding nest sites, the birds' population status is difficult to determine.

Habitat - Woodlands, though will hunt in the open. Frequent visitor at backyard bird feeders in pursuit of its primarily avian prey.

Diet - Almost exclusively small birds, from the size of creepers to woodpeckers as large or larger than itself; will also occasionally take small reptiles or amphibians, mammals, insects. Extreme difference in size between male and female thought to assist in resource allocation, to provide a wider range of prey species available to feed the young.

Call - Typically silent most of the year; vocalizations between a pair during nesting season in dense forest may be the primary means of communication; the kek-kek-kek or kik-kik-kik alarm call is higher, thinner and faster than Cooper's hawk. Other calls may be given by male as he arrives at nest with food, by begging juveniles, or in flight by hunting juveniles; the call note is a plaintive whine.

Nesting - Very difficult to study, as nests are well hidden; nests are built of sticks, twigs and lined with strips of bark, up to 2' across, usually in the crotch or between a branch and the trunk of a tree, usually a dense conifer. Breeding typically timed to coincide with fledging of their songbird prey.

Most Common Problems - Flying into windows, getting trapped in buildings, tangling in fencing and netting, being hit by cars.

Next Species

Back to Resident Raptors Page