[3] In addition to the nominate taxon (A. s. striatus), it includes the subspecies perobscurus, velox, suttoni, madrensis, fringilloides, and venator.

This allopatry combined with differences in plumage (see Appearance) and, apparently, certain measurements, has been the background for the split, but hard scientific data are presently lacking (AOU).

A 2021 study of sharp-shinned hawks recommended recognising the three endemic Caribbean island subspecies as distinct species, based on analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA and diagnosed by their plumage: A. striatus, restricted to the island of Hispaniola, A. fringilloides to Cuba and A. venator to Puerto Rico.

The taxon erythronemius (rufous-thighed hawk) is found in tropical and subtropical regions; both in lowlands and highlands.

The great majority of this hawk's prey are small birds, especially various songbirds such as sparrows, wood-warblers, finches, wrens, nuthatches, tits, icterids and thrushes.

These hawks often exploit backyard bird feeders in order to target congregations of ideal prey.

[8] Sharp-shinned hawks construct a stick nest in a large conifer or dense group of deciduous trees.

The population of USA and Canada has rebounded since and might even exceed historical numbers today, probably due to the combination of the ban on DDT and the proliferation of backyard bird feeders in North America which create unnaturally reliable and easy prey sources.

An exception is the subspecies from Puerto Rico, Accipiter striatus venator, which is rare and listed as endangered by the U.S.

The remaining resident subspecies from the Greater Antilles, fringilliodes from Cuba and nominate (A. s. striatus) from Hispaniola, are uncommon, local, and, at least in the case of the latter, decreasing.

The situation for chionogaster (white-breasted hawk) is potentially more problematic due to its limited range, although it, at least locally, remains fairly common.