Sharp-shinned Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

Silhouette: Shyamal · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Elk Island National Park
22 Verified sightings at Elk Island National Park From 2019 to 2026
5,564 Verified sightings across all 76 parks From 2019 to 2026
September Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Sharp-shinned Hawk

The sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus) or northern sharp-shinned hawk, colloquially often nicknamed sharpie, is a small hawk, with males being the smallest hawks in the United States and Canada, but with the species averaging larger than some Neotropical species, such as the tiny hawk. The taxonomy is far from resolved, with some authorities considering the southern taxa to represent three separate species, white-breasted hawk (A. chionogaster), plain-breasted hawk (A. ventralis), and rufous-thighed hawk (A. erythronemius). The American Ornithological Society and some other checklists keep all four species conspecific. A recent genetic study additionally recommended splitting the three Caribbean island populations as three additional separate species, though this has not yet been adopted by any of the ornithological authorities.

The sharp-shinned hawk is sometimes separated into four species, with the northern group (see distribution) retaining both the scientific name and the common name sharp-shinned hawk (A. striatus). In addition to the nominate taxon A. s. striatus on Hispaniola, it includes the subspecies A. s. perobscurus on Haida Gwaii, A. s. velox in most... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Elk Island National Park

Broad-winged Hawk
LC

Broad-winged Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo platypterus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Red-tailed Hawk
LC

Red-tailed Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo jamaicensis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Bald Eagle
LC

Bald Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Hen Harrier
LC

Hen Harrier

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circus cyaneus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Swainson's Hawk
LC

Swainson's Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo swainsoni

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Rough-legged Hawk
LC

Rough-legged Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo lagopus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Osprey
LC

Osprey

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pandion haliaetus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
2 Celaque National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~10%
3 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
4 El Triunfo 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
5 Cusuco National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~10%
6 El Palmar National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
~10%
7 Iberá National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
<5%
8 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
9 Puracé National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
10 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
11 La Tigra National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
12 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
13 Chapada Diamantina National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
14 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
15 Henri Pittier National Park 🇻🇪 Venezuela
<5%
16 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
17 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
18 El Impenetrable National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
<5%
19 Los Nevados National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
20 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
21 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
22 Itatiaia National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
23 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
24 Irazú Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
25 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
26 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
27 Podocarpus National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
28 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
29 Serra da Canastra National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
30 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
31 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
32 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
33 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
34 Volcán Barú National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
35 Cordillera Azul National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
<5%
36 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
37 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
38 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
39 Iguazú National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
<5%
40 Chingaza National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
41 Madidi National Park 🇧🇴 Bolivia
<5%
42 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
43 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
44 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
45 Tikal National Park 🇬🇹 Guatemala
<5%
46 Iguaçu National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
47 Tijuca National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
48 Farallones de Cali National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
49 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
50 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
51 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
52 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
53 Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
54 Jaragua National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
Insufficient data
55 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
56 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
57 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
58 Katmai National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
59 Cabo Pulmo National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
60 Amboró National Park 🇧🇴 Bolivia
Insufficient data
61 Cajas National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
Insufficient data
62 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
63 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
64 Serra dos Órgãos National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data
65 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
66 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
67 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
68 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
69 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
70 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
71 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
72 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
Insufficient data
73 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
74 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
75 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
76 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Sharp-shinned Hawk in Elk Island National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Sharp-shinned Hawk sighting in Elk Island National Park, based on 22 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Sharp-shinned Hawk in Elk Island National Park?

September has the highest sighting rate for Sharp-shinned Hawk in Elk Island National Park in our monthly data.

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