{"id":60910,"date":"2019-10-19T06:24:46","date_gmt":"2019-10-19T12:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=60910"},"modified":"2023-10-13T14:24:32","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T20:24:32","slug":"sharp-shinned-hawk-perched-and-preening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/10\/19\/sharp-shinned-hawk-perched-and-preening\/","title":{"rendered":"Sharp-shinned Hawk Perched And Preening"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Sharp-shinnedSharp-shinned Hawk on an old wooden fence post \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes to accipiters I see Sharp-shinned Hawks less frequently than I do Cooper’s Hawks or Northern Goshawks.\u00a0 When I have a Sharp-shinned Hawk in my viewfinder I become very excited.<\/p>\n

Yesterday morning, I was buzzing with glee when I found and pointed out a Sharp-shinned Hawk that flew across a dirt road in the West Desert, landed on an old wooden fence post and began to preen.<\/p>\n

When the Sharp-shinned Hawk first landed it simply looked around and I would have been happy with just perched images of this small raptor.<\/p>\n

The background in these images isn’t the sky even though that is what it appears to be, it is actually shaded distant mountains with low clouds obscuring the peaks.\u00a0 The green hues seen in the background are distant trees.<\/p>\n

\"BackBack view of a Sharp-shinned Hawk \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

When the Sharp-shinned Hawk turned its head and looked in the opposite direction I was happy because I like to get different poses and head angles with all of my birdy subjects when I can.<\/p>\n

\"PreeningPreening Sharp-shinned Hawk \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

So when the Sharp-shinned Hawk started to preen I was over the moon.<\/p>\n

I found the molt pattern shown in the rectrices of this hawk interesting. There are some retained juvenal tail feathers, some adult tail feathers and one tail feather that is growing in. I also see at least one retained secondary feather on the left wing.<\/p>\n

I’d guess that this is the Sharp-shinned Hawk’s second fall but I am not an expert, and I don’t claim to be, so I may check with some people that I know who are far more knowledgeable than I am about this hawk’s age.<\/p>\n

By the way, I believe this is a male because of the narrow dark crescent below the eye and overall blue-gray color of the uppersides.<\/p>\n

\"Sharp-shinnedSharp-shinned Hawk in front of mountains and clouds \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

I would have loved to have had more time with this Sharp-shinned Hawk but a pickup barreled down the road and the hawk took flight as it rumbled by. Still, I was grateful to have it in my viewfinder for as long as I did.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Sharp-shinned Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When it comes to accipiters I see Sharp-shinned Hawks less frequently than I do Cooper’s Hawks or Northern Goshawks so when I have a Sharp-shinned Hawk in my viewfinder I become very excited.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":117010,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,5394,1316,358,26,1314],"tags":[5396,5397,970,4101,4098,4620,898,7017,4033,4169,4062,2312,7862,4069,4394,153,7863,5395,10452,8917],"class_list":["post-60910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-sharp-shinned-hawks","category-stansbury-mountains-utah","category-tooele-county","category-utah","category-west-desert-utah","tag-accipiter-striatus","tag-accipiters","tag-autumn","tag-clouds","tag-desert","tag-fall","tag-fence-post","tag-foothills","tag-hawk","tag-hawks","tag-male","tag-molt","tag-molt-pattern","tag-mountains","tag-post","tag-raptors","tag-rectrices","tag-sharp-shinned-hawk","tag-sky-island-mountains","tag-wooden-post"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/sharp-shinned-hawk-old-post-mia-mcpherson-3169.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-fQq","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":117036,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/10\/14\/autumn-sharp-shinned-hawk-portraits\/","url_meta":{"origin":60910,"position":0},"title":"Autumn Sharp-shinned Hawk Portraits","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 14, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The last bird I photographed yesterday at Farmington Bay WMA was a surprise Sharp-shinned Hawk that flew in so close I could only take portraits of her or him.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Autumn Sharp-shinned Hawk close up, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/sharp-shinned-adult-portrait-mia-mcpherson-4324.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/sharp-shinned-adult-portrait-mia-mcpherson-4324.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/sharp-shinned-adult-portrait-mia-mcpherson-4324.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/sharp-shinned-adult-portrait-mia-mcpherson-4324.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":41614,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/08\/31\/immature-sharp-shinned-hawk-in-the-centennial-valley-of-montana\/","url_meta":{"origin":60910,"position":1},"title":"Immature Sharp-shinned Hawk in the Centennial Valley of Montana","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 31, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Last year on September 8th I located an immature Sharp-shinned Hawk in the Centennial Valley of Montana early in the morning as it flew low to the ground looking for small birds to capture and consume.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Centennial Valley immature Sharp-shinned Hawk, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/sharp-shinned-hawk-perched-mia-mcpherson-4210.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/sharp-shinned-hawk-perched-mia-mcpherson-4210.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/sharp-shinned-hawk-perched-mia-mcpherson-4210.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/sharp-shinned-hawk-perched-mia-mcpherson-4210.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":112318,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/04\/10\/mix-of-urban-birds-close-to-home\/","url_meta":{"origin":60910,"position":2},"title":"Mix Of Urban Birds Close To Home","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 10, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"This mix of urban birds were taken over a two day period close to home. Birds, no matter where they are, bring me joy, happiness, and even laughter.","rel":"","context":"In "American Robins"","block_context":{"text":"American Robins","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/thrushes\/american-robins\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Double-crested Cormorant splashy landing, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/double-crested-cormorant-landing-on-pnd-mia-mcpherson-1583.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/double-crested-cormorant-landing-on-pnd-mia-mcpherson-1583.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/double-crested-cormorant-landing-on-pnd-mia-mcpherson-1583.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/double-crested-cormorant-landing-on-pnd-mia-mcpherson-1583.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":73533,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/09\/07\/focusing-on-taking-immature-coopers-hawk-photos\/","url_meta":{"origin":60910,"position":3},"title":"Focusing On Taking Immature Cooper’s Hawk Photos","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 7, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The first bird I photographed yesterday morning was an immature Cooper's Hawk that I found because I spotted a Red-tailed Hawk on a cliff face that the young accipiter decided to harass.\u00a0","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Immature Cooper's Hawk perched on a gate railing, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/coopers-hawk-immature-gate-mia-mcpherson-2202.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/coopers-hawk-immature-gate-mia-mcpherson-2202.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/coopers-hawk-immature-gate-mia-mcpherson-2202.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/coopers-hawk-immature-gate-mia-mcpherson-2202.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":118517,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/11\/24\/dark-morph-ferruginous-hawk-in-the-west-desert\/","url_meta":{"origin":60910,"position":4},"title":"Dark Morph Ferruginous Hawk In The West Desert","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 24, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Four years ago today, I found this gorgeous dark morph Ferruginous Hawk perched on a juniper fence post in the West Desert. I spotted it from about a mile away.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lifting off dark morph Ferruginous Hawk, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/ferruginous-hawk-dark-morph-west-desert-mia-mcpherson-4510.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/ferruginous-hawk-dark-morph-west-desert-mia-mcpherson-4510.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/ferruginous-hawk-dark-morph-west-desert-mia-mcpherson-4510.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/ferruginous-hawk-dark-morph-west-desert-mia-mcpherson-4510.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":80204,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/03\/03\/west-desert-male-rough-legged-hawk\/","url_meta":{"origin":60910,"position":5},"title":"West Desert Male Rough-legged Hawk","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 3, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday morning\u00a0 was clear, bright, chilly, and I spent ten minutes photographing an adult male Rough-legged Hawk that I found in the West Desert.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult male Rough-legged Hawk lifting off from a fence post, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/rough-legged-hawk-adult-male-west-desert-mia-mcpherson-6454.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/rough-legged-hawk-adult-male-west-desert-mia-mcpherson-6454.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/rough-legged-hawk-adult-male-west-desert-mia-mcpherson-6454.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/rough-legged-hawk-adult-male-west-desert-mia-mcpherson-6454.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60910","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60910"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60910\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/117010"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60910"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60910"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60910"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}