Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)

Scientific classification :

Kingdom : Animalia

Phylum : Chordata

Class : Aves

Order : Accipitriformes

Family : Accipitridae

Genus : Accipiter

Species : A. striatus

This bird is native to North America. It is not a traditional bird in falconry as it does not exist in the wild in Europe, but it has been used for falconry. The Sharp-Shinned Hawk is named for the thin ridge which runs along the bird's long legs, or tarsus, giving the appearance of a "sharp shin". The female will have a flying weight from, roughly, 150g to 220g. 

Plumage 

The immature Sharpie is a creamy white with small brown splotches looking like they have been dotted with a paint brush down their chest. The wings have parallel stripes running the length of them - all in a tan and brown coloring which blends with the landscape they live in. The immature bird has yellow eyes which will turn orange and then red through the years. The adult Sharpie has reddish-brown bars across the chest and a dark head extending down the nape of the neck. The tail has several wide bands across it. The back, wings, and tail are a blue-gray. 

Morphology 

The body form of the Sharp-Shin is marked by a long tail. The tail acts as a rudder to steer the bird during their quick forward flight and acceleration. Contrast that with the soaring Red-Tail, the Accipiters in general need a longer tail for their flight style. The Sharp-Shin and the Cooper's hawk are sometimes confused. If looking at the two in profile, the Cooper's will be slightly larger and have the appearance of a flater head and a more pronounced brow. The Sharp-Shin will have a more rounded head and a less pronounced brow. The Sharp-Shin also have a more square tail while the Cooper's appears much more rounded. This hawk displays the most pronounced sexual dimorphism of any of the hawks with the female being considerably larger than the male. The male will be the size of a typical Robin. If using a neck bell on this bird, the neck bell tie should be the diameter of a dime. 

Hunting 

Typical quarry caught with the Sharpie will be small birds such a sparrows and starlings. In the wild they catch finches and various songbirds, as well. This bird can be hunted almost anywhere as there is plenty of quarry for it. Most all the hunting is up close so the falconer really gets to see the flights. 

Nesting

Nest a substantial platform of large, often fresh, twigs broken from conifer branches, placed on horizontal limb in dense tree at a height of 6 - 18 meters (20 - 60 feet). Center lined with bark chips. Nests built in mature trees against trunk, supported by one or more large branches and generally shaded from above. Males may show a high degree of territory fidelity, with several old nests located within a small area. Males assist in building the nest. Old nests of Cooper's Hawks, crows, and other species may be refurbished and reused.

Trivia 

The Sharp-shin is commonly referred to as the Sharpie. The male Sharp-Shin will fly at about 100g while the female Sharp-Shin will fly at around 170g. For its size, this bird has the largest foot of any of the birds used in falconry. The Sharpie is one of the birds more prone to apoplexy, and has a high metabolism. It is a delicate, high-strung bird that is difficult to manage. 

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American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

Scientific classification : 

Kingdom : Animalia

Phylum : Chordata

Class : Aves

Order : Falconiformes

Family : Falconidae

Genus : Falco

Species : F. sparverius

The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), sometimes colloquially known as the Sparrow Hawk, is a small falcon, and the only kestrel found in the Americas. It is the most common falcon in North America, and is found in a wide variety of habitats. At 19–21 centimeters (7–8 in) long, it is also the smallest falcon in North America. It exhibits sexual dimorphism in size and plumage, although both genders have a rufous back with noticeable barring. Juveniles are similar in plumage to adults.

This bird is native to North America with at least 15 subspecies running the length of the Americas and near world-wide distribution of the species. It is not a traditional bird in falconry as it does not exist in the wild in Europe, but it has been very successfully used for falconry. As the smallest American falcon, the size makes it unintimidating to a novice, however that is also a hidden danger as their metabolism is so high that in order to keep them in peak condition, precise measurements must be made of their weight and food intake. 

This bird is not to be confused with the Eurasian Kestrel or the Eurasian Sparrowhawk. 

Plumage: The immature plumage of the Kestrel is not long lasted as the American Kestrel goes through a moult within 6 months of hatching. Partly because of this, the haggard Kestrel is an acceptable bird for an apprentice to trap. The male and female are very differently colored. The female is a duller brown and blue-gray color while the male has more striking rust and stronger blue-gray colors. 

Hunting: Typical quarry caught with the Kestrel are mice, house sparrows, starlings, English sparrows, and insects. These birds subsist on small mice and insects in the wild. Commonly passed over as a hunting companion for not having the flashy style of some other birds, these birds can actually be hunted in a backyard and have been known to be flown by handicapped falconers who are able to manage the hunting style and quarry that this falcon takes. This small raptor has a unique ability to hover in mid-flight. 

In the summer when this bird is catching grasshoppers and other insects, it hunts in a typical buteonine style. During the winter months when this bird is hunting other small birds, it hunts in a falconine fashion. 

Trivia: The Kestrel is also referred to as the American Kestrel, American Sparrowhawk, Eastern Sparrow Hawk, or Sparrow Hawk (a misnomer as this is actually a falcon). This becomes very confusing when discussing the Eurasian Sparrowhawk or the European Kestrel. These are wide-spread and estimated to have a breeding population of 2.4 million in the US alone. One characteristic of the Kestrel is the tail pumping actions, head bobbing, and hovering flight style it performs. This bird will most usually have a hunting weight under 100 g. For its size, this bird has the most powerful foot of any of the birds used in falconry. Kestrels are not known for being highly motivated to hunt, unlike many other species such as Merlins or Goshawks. These birds need to know they have a distinct advantage over their intended prey in order to give chase.

Distribution: The American Kestrel is the most abundant falcon in North America, although its total population is difficult to quantify, as local populations can change quickly due to resource availability. The North American population has been estimated at 1.2 million pairs, with the Central and South American populations being as large. A smaller estimate is 236,000 birds wintering in North America. A population increase occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries, probably due to deforestation for agriculture. The resulting pastures provided a ideal habitat for kestrels.

  Year Round

  Summer (breeding)

  Winter (nonbreeding)

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