A name for several species of hawk in the genus Accipiter, which dwell in and near woodlands and swamps. In North America, the sharp-shinned hawk is the canonical sparrow hawk, so called for its tendency to feed on sparrows, and for its rather small size relative to other hawks. The name is also occasionally applies to the larger, but similar Cooper's Hawk and the Northern Goshawk. Both of these species eat other birds, but both are considerably larger than the sharp-shin. The name is also applied to some European hawks, especially in England.