Sharp-shinned Hawk Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Calls (Northern)
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New York, May 23, 1993Recorded by Gregory Budney / Macaulay Library
Calls (Northern)
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New York, July 10, 1953Recorded by Peter Paul Kellogg / Macaulay Library
Calls (Northern)
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Wyoming, July 23, 2017Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Calls (Northern)
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New York, April 14, 2016Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Calls (Plain-breasted)
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Puno, December 13, 2016Recorded by Glenn Seeholzer / Macaulay Library
Calls (Plain-breasted)
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Puno, December 13, 2016Recorded by Glenn Seeholzer / Macaulay Library
Calls (Plain-breasted)
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Cochabamba, March 15, 1992Recorded by Bret Whitney / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

The Sharp-shinned Hawk has no true song, but males and females vocalize to each other during courtship with a plaintive squeal or a series of excited kik-kik-kik calls. Because they are smaller, males tend to have higher voices than females. Mated pairs call to each other during the breeding season, making nesting the noisiest time for this usually silent bird.

Calls

The Sharp-shinned Hawk’s typical call is a high-pitched, frantic kik-kik-kik. It’s used as an alarm call, during courtship, and by young birds just before they fledge. Nestlings and brooding females give a thin, high-pitched call to beg for food when the male brings prey to the nest.