Sharp shinned Hawks in Houston are a fairly common sight in Houston and coastal Texas. They are most common in migration and in winter, being unheard of during the summer.
While doing a some work in the yard I noticed this guy perched high up in a tall pine nearby. I managed to squeeze out a couple of “acceptable” shots despite poor lighting.on this overcast day. As a result the bird was badly back-lit.
During the winter months Sharp shinned Hawks in Houston spend a lot of time checking out the neighborhood bird feeders. The Sharp-shinned Hawk is a regular visitor to the bird feeders but they’re eating birds, not seeds. Sharp-shinned Hawks are pursuit hunters. They chase their prey on the wing by bursting out from a hidden ambush with impressive speed. They take small birds in the air or on the ground, or right off of a platform feeder. Sharp-shins use cover and stealth to get in close. They are agile and fast fliers, not hesitating to fly through trees and brush. They hunt mostly from cover. In addition are sometimes seen flying low along the ground before popping up and devastating their prey.
The migration season is well underway now, and I expect to see more Sharp shinned Hawks in Houston, along with their cousins, the Cooper’s Hawk. A young Cooper’s was in the yard about two months ago. I believe it was fledged locally. The link to that post is here.
Posts about other locally seen raptors, Red shouldered hawk and Mississippi Kite
For posts on individual species, navigate to the “Birds I have Known” category
