One of the most frequently recorded species at the majority of watch sites, the Sharp-shinned Hawk is one of the species facing the steepest declines. Our results show declines in migrating Sharp-shinned Hawks at 45.7% of count sites, while 40.9% of sites show stable counts and 13.3% of sites displayed increased counts. Major declines are seen in the Eastern region (27 of 55 sites) and the Western region (8 of 11 sites), while stable populations were documented in the Central region (6 of 8 sites) and the Gulf Region (3 of 5 sites). Twenty-year trends (not shown) also suggest widespread declines in migrant birds, primarily at Eastern count sites.

Winter survey data from the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) show an overall mix of declines, stability, and increases across the continent for the past decade (2009-2022). Consistent with migration trends, declining winter numbers are seen primarily in the East and include Ontario and states bordering the Great Lakes and down throughout the East coast. Northwestern states show largely stable numbers. Trends could in part reflect a shift in migratory behavior in Eastern populations, but the lack of increases in the wintering populations suggests likely overall population declines. Similarly, 10-year abundance data from eBird reports widespread declining populations throughout the Sharp-shinned Hawk’s range. The eBird data reports a -41.2% decline in abundance from 2012-2022 for this species, with severe declines seen in Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, states and provinces which make up the species’ breeding range. These results emphasize the need for immediate research to identify the cause of declines.

Sharp-shinned Hawks are globally listed as a Species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List with no listed designations since the 1980s. Sharp-shinned Hawks are vulnerable to habitat loss through forest removal, collisions, pesticides, environmental contaminants, and human harassment while nesting. Recent detection of West Nile virus in specimens found dead warrants further investigation. Sharp-shinned Hawks feed primarily on small birds and inhabit large tracts of boreal or mixed deciduous-conifer forests, both of which are areas of conservation concern. Declines in prey, increases in contaminants and disease, and possible climate change impacts should be investigated.