Falconry: Sharp-shinned hawks introduction

In this falconry video, I introduce sharp shinned hawks as falconry birds. Sharp-shins are North America's smallest accipiter. As new world sparrowhawks, they are supreme hunters of small birds. Few falconry raptors can match the speed and agility of a sharp shinned hawk off the fist. This video briefly introduces sharp shins as a species, and discusses the pros and cons of training a sharp shinned hawk in falconry.
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[@Brisco-rl8nc]

I've flown a lot of imprint sharp-shinned hawks, and in my experience they are far more agile than a male Cooper's on small quarry. But, I gotta say, car-hawking starlings in my area in Utah is not easy in late summer and early fall. Most starlings are feeding up in Russian olive trees or catching flies in the air by making short flights from utility wires. Finding starlings feeding on the ground can be tough in August and September.

[@Mikheno]

I've flown 5 or 6 passage Sharpies in my life and you're absolutely correct. More fun than any falconry bird out there. Prey is everywhere so no need to drive 500 miles to find suitable quarry. There is some small bird right in your backyard to chase with the Sharp-shin. Love these little guys

[@suarezci]

I'd love to fly one in the future! Quick note, here in the DR, they're the nominal subspecies but almost separated. They can be spotted hunting scaly naped pigeons in the forest, which is incredible.

[@keerthivasannambiraju955]

You should do a video on sparrowhawks including European Sparrowhawk and Black Sparrowhawk. Plus sharp-shinned hawks remind me of the Besra of Southeast Asia

[@clairakubinski795]

Thank you so much for this video! I’ve got a lady sharp shinned who occasionally visits my feeder to snack on the sparrows and I’m so happy to know more about them

[@RaptorGirlkathy]

Thank you so much, Ben!! Always wondered about sharpies!!

[@jackgilbert6502]

Been looking into flying one for a long time, very glad you did an in depth discussion on them. One of my favorite videos of yours is the one on how to find sharp shinned hawk nests, and I hope to use that information soon

[@richardthompson3296]

Love me some sharpie's. Great vid. I reduced the chances of stuff going wrong with a sharpie by only field Hawking. Still had coop's come in but no collisions with anything that way. There twice the work of any other hawk but twice the fun

[@StoneE4]

One thing I don't ever remember you speaking about is the lifespan of raptors. It would be interesting to know average lifespan for both wild raptors and ones kept for falconry.

[@jonahmcbride934]

I have flown 3 passages. They are amazing! Like a 100% kill rate from the glove or t-perch. However, they need daily attention to keep a good temperment.

[@FalconsLedge]

Though I will say, my sharpie was very nicely trained, he was a great bird

[@oldschoolhawking8191]

Love this video Ben. Right to the point and spot-on with the information!😎👍

[@FalconsLedge]

Great birds, Cooper's were more fun, mostly because of the wider variety of prey.

[@Nobodyspecial5150]

Can you please make a tame hacking video doesnt matter how long the video is the more the better. Not much out there on the net about it.

[@kristensorensen2219]

❤🎉

[@shae899]

Ben, does the "sharp shin" even distinguish a Sharpie from a small male cooper's and its legs? As a bird watcher, I Don't even notice much (if any) difference until we get to female cooper's and their much thicker (and sure, more rounded) legs.

[@TheUltraBeast1]

I see tons of sharp shins where I live, one just killed a mockingbird in my yard the other day. Any updates on the gyr you were raising Ben?

[@margaret2652]

Seen one catch a starling.

[@SplotchTG]

So, Ben, you say that sharp shinned hawks are very delicate. Would you say that they are more or less delicate than a American kestrel?

[@shae899]

He said near the end of the video that the sharp-shinned he considers more delicate than a Merlin or a Kestrel. (They are an accipiter, though. Wild accipiter skeletons show that they spend their lives breaking and healing bones from tree chases, indicating a high recovery rate.)

[@richardthompson3296]

I know I am not Ben but I have flown multiples of each bird. Kestrels are actually quite robust compared to a sharpie when it comes to food plus husbandry. For example you could feed kestrels commercial bought for a extended time. A sharpie would die. Sharpie's are only good on small fresh bird diet every day.

[@USA4thewin]

keep looking and cant find a way to contact you ,,, whats the best way

[@angelgreen3532]

What's your favorite raptor for taking european starlings?

[@benwoodrufffalconry]

In open country, probably a Merlin or a male peregrine working the entire flock. In direct pursuit flights, a Cooper’s hawk.

[@thefalconrychef6660]

Here in England and as an experienced falconer..I can honestly say iv never heard of this species..bad I know,as I’m an avid goshawk hunter..but by looking at the intro..is a “sharp shin” and a “sparrow hawk” the same?

[@chriskitchen4772]

You could say that the "sharp shin" is North America's "sparrow hawk". That's what he said. I believe your sparrow hawk is a little bit bigger than our sharp shin hawks size wise.

[@thefalconrychef6660]

@@chriskitchen4772 interesting..really surprised how iv never seen one flown here in the uk..seeing as there pretty much everything else

[@markr1142]

No, I fly sparrowhawks and used to fly goshawks. Eurasion sparrowhawks are slightly bigger than sharp shinned hawks. They look almost identicle though. We don't have a coopers hawk sized accipter in Europe, so our sparrowhawks tend to be bigger (especially females) and male goshawks slightly smaller than North American goshawks to fill in the gap.