Agile, stealthy woodland predator. Common throughout the US and southern Canada in woodlands and now suburbs and towns. Medium-sized hawk with long tail and rounded wings; young birds are brown-backed and streaked below, adults are slate gray above with red barring below. Larger but very similar to Sharp-shinned Hawks. Extremely agile flyer that specializes in catching birds, sometimes at feeders, which it kills by squeezing with its feet. Also eats small mammals, especially in West. Males build the nest in large trees in dense woodlands. Lifespan up to 20 years. Population ~ 700,000 and stable.