What Are The Smallest Types Of Hawks?

The smallest type of falcon is the sharp-shinned hawk . These hawks are distinguished by their small size compared to other hawks, as their average length does not exceed 33 centimeters, and their mass does not exceed 227 grams. They are small in size compared to others. And mass, This is because the length of large falcons can reach 100 centimeters or more, and the largest of them may weigh up to 15 kilograms, This type of falcon is also classified as follows:

Class: Birds

(Order): Accipitriformes

Family: Accipitridae

Genus (Genus): Hawk

There are also several types of other small falcons, such as the African dwarf falcon, which has an average length of 19 centimeters and is considered one of the smallest falcons, but not the smallest.

Characteristics of the smallest types of hawks

The following is an enumeration of the most important characteristics of the smallest falcons:

The appearance

They are small hawks with short, round wings. They have a long tail with a square-shaped end with a slit at the ends. Their heads are small and unable to appear outside the wrists of the wings during flight. In addition, females of this species are relatively larger than males, and these species have Falcons have brown feathers when they are young, and when they grow up, the feathers change to gray-colored feathers on the top of the head and back, and lighter-colored feathers in the chest area. They are also striped from that area in a parallel manner horizontally. As for their tails, they are covered with dark-colored feathers that range between brown. And black.

Behavioral traits

These hawks are migratory birds that live in open habitats. They feed on mammals and songbirds. They are considered carnivores, and are distinguished by their rapid flight style, which can be described as flapping, then gliding, and so on.

Spread

These species spread and reproduce in many regions. They are found, for example, in northern Alaska and Canada. They are migratory falcons. During migration, dozens or even hundreds of them pass through some of the areas they prefer, such as coasts, lake shores, and mountain hills. This is because they search for areas. Open areas to settle in, while in other seasons, these falcons hide in the dense forests to be able to hunt songbirds.

Nesting

These birds build their nests in areas hidden from view, such as dense coniferous forests, so that the location of the nest is well hidden. They also build it using branches, bark, and grasses, and it is built by both males and females. When the female lays her eggs, their numbers are often between 3 to 5. The incubation period for females extends between 30 to 35 days, and during this period, the male brings food to the female in the nest, and she remains close to her children in the first week or two after hatching, and during this period also the male brings food, and the female feeds it to her chicks. After about a month, the young may move from the nest to nearby branches, and they may begin to be able to fly in about 5 to 6 weeks.