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\ ˈshärp-ˈshind- 
\
\Definition of sharp-shinned hawk
: a common widely distributed American accipiter (Accipiter striatus) that is grayish above, has a chestnut breast, short rounded wings, and a tail with a notched or square tip when folded
— called also sharp-shin
Examples of sharp-shinned hawk in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web While broad-wings are the big show, other species commonly seen during the fall migrations include falcons, sharp-shinned hawks, American kestrels, ospreys, and northern harriers.
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BostonGlobe.com, "“They’re power fliers. They head out over open water and island hop to Nantucket, Long Island, and so on. They’re not intimidated by water like buteos are.”," 10 Oct. 2019 The sharp-shinned hawk is one of more than a dozen raptor species that fly south for the winter.
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Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, "You don’t need to be hawk-eyed to spot amazing birds of prey," 28 Oct. 2019 Officials have spotted deer, coyote and a nest of sharp-shinned hawks, which is listed as a species of concern in Ohio, but nothing truly remarkable for the region.
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Grant Segall, cleveland, "Morgana Bluffs — Cleveland’s tiny new nature preserve — helps Slavic Villagers ‘shake off the inside’," 13 Oct. 2019 Carey said that during October more sharp-shinned hawks, Cooper’s hawks, red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures, ospreys, northern harriers, bald eagles, and various species of falcons, such as peregrines, merlins, and kestrels, can be seen migrating.
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BostonGlobe.com, "“They’re power fliers. They head out over open water and island hop to Nantucket, Long Island, and so on. They’re not intimidated by water like buteos are.”," 10 Oct. 2019 Get your binoculars and explore the island's shorelines, prairies and waterways to see non-native birds like the sandhill crane, sharp-shinned hawk and Mississippi kite.
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Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, Houston Chronicle, "Cooler weather will offer Galveston Island relaxation this fall," 20 Sep. 2019 Birders should also expect to see arriving winter raptors like ferruginous hawks, sharp-shinned hawks and merlin.
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Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Ladder-backed woodpecker is fond of the desert," 19 Sep. 2019 All accipiters, including the sharp-shinned hawk, and its close relative the Cooper’s hawk, have distinctive flight patterns that are useful in identifying them, even at a distance.
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Dave Taft, New York Times, "Little Terror of the Flyway," 19 Oct. 2017
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sharp-shinned hawk.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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The first known use of sharp-shinned hawk was circa 1812
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