This beautiful Sharp-shinned Hawk stopped by our bird feeders yesterday right around lunchtime. He must have been hoping to find something there for a meal. (Click on blog link for other photos.)
In doing some research, I learned that the Sharp-shinned Hawk eats insects, reptiles, small mammals and small songbirds. And those we have plenty of in our yard. They usually pounce from low perches which is why I saw him on the feeder.
When hunting at backyard bird feeders, they cause a wave of high-pitched alarm calls among the gathered songbirds as they flee the area. He stayed for a bit but then flew away without finding his lunch in our yard.
Beautiful bird, don’t you think? Have you ever seen a Sharp-shinned Hawk?
From: The Island Hawk – Alfred Noyes
“…As I glide and glide with my peering head,
Or swerve at a puff of smoke,
Who watcheth my wings on the wind outspread,
Here – gone – with an instant stroke?…”
https://www.best-poems.net/alfred-noyes/the-island-hawk.html