From incubation through the early nestling stage, males do essentially all the hunting, and young remain dependent on adults for up to 28 days after they fledge. Sharpies often migrate in large numbers. They hunt by making low dashes through woods. From incubation to the early nestling stage, the male does most of the hunting. After they fledge, the young are dependent on adults for up to 40 days.
Females are considerably larger than males, as is the case with most accipiters.
They can live within developed areas where tall, mature tree canopies are maintained. They hunt at forest edges and in open woodlands near fields and meadows. During their aerial spiraling displays, the female sometimes rolls over and interlocks feet with the male. They are important controllers of rodents thoughout their range. They sometimes build their nests on cliffs and on the ground.