This beautiful Sharp-shinned Hawk stopped by our bird feeders yesterday right around lunchtime. He must have been hoping to find something there for a meal. (Click on blog link for other photos.)

In doing some research, I learned that the Sharp-shinned Hawk eats insects, reptiles, small mammals and small songbirds. And those we have plenty of in our yard. They usually pounce from low perches which is why I saw him on the feeder.

When hunting at backyard bird feeders, they cause a wave of high-pitched alarm calls among the gathered songbirds as they flee the area. He stayed for a bit but then flew away without finding his lunch in our yard.

Beautiful bird, don’t you think? Have you ever seen a Sharp-shinned Hawk?