Editing Sharp-shinned hawk (section)

==Taxonomy==
[[File:SharpshinnedHawk23.jpg|thumb|With a chick (nominate group)]]
The sharp-shinned hawk is sometimes separated into four species, with the northern group (''see distribution'') retaining both the [[scientific name]] and the [[common name]]: sharp-shinned hawk (''A. striatus'').<ref name=IOC14.1/> In addition to the nominate taxon (''A. s. striatus''), it includes the subspecies ''perobscurus'', ''velox'', ''suttoni'', ''madrensis'', ''fringilloides'', and ''venator''. The three remaining taxa, each considered a [[monotypic]] species if split, are the white-breasted hawk (''A. chionogaster''; [[Johann Jacob Kaup|Kaup]], 1852), plain-breasted hawk (''A. ventralis''; [[Philip Lutley Sclater|Sclater]], 1866) and rufous-thighed hawk (''A. erythronemius''; Kaup, 1850). The breeding ranges of the groups are entirely [[allopatric]], although the wintering range of the nominate group partially overlaps with the range of ''chionogaster'' (as is also the case with certain taxa within the nominate group). 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 ([[American Ornithologists' Union|AOU]]). Disregarding field guides, most material published in recent years (e.g. AOU, Ferguson-Lees ''et al.'' p.&nbsp;586, and Dickinson ''et al.'') has therefore considered all to be members of a single widespread species – but not without equivocation: Ferguson-Lees et al. say that if they were to make a world list, they would include the three taxa as separate species (p.&nbsp;75), and the AOU's comment includes the note "split almost certainly good".

Storer (1952) suggested that the southernmost populations within the nominate group were paler below, thus approaching ''chionogaster''. This has also been reflected in recent guides, where ''A. s. madrensis'' of southern Mexico is described as being relatively pale below (compared to more northern subspecies), but if this is a sign of [[intergradation]] with ''chionogaster'' or a north-south cline which includes both the members of the nominate group and ''chionogaster'' remains unclear. In Bolivia, ''ventralis'' and '' erythronemius'' approach each other, but no evidence of intergradation is known – something that, without actual [[Biological specimen|specimen]]s, also would be hard to prove due to the variability in the plumage of ''ventralis''.

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. If this is accepted and ''A. striatus'' treated as endemic to Hispaniola, the continental complex would take the scientific name ''A. velox''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Catanach |first1=Therese A. |last2=Halley |first2=Matthew R. |last3=Allen |first3=Julie M. |last4=Johnson |first4=Jeff A. |last5=Thorstrom |first5=Russell |last6=Palhano |first6=Samantha |last7=Poor Thunder |first7=Chyna |last8=Gallardo |first8=Julio C. |last9=Weckstein |first9=Jason D.  |title=Systematics and conservation of an endemic radiation of ''Accipiter'' hawks in the Caribbean islands |date=2021  |journal=Ornithology |volume=138 |issue=3 |doi=10.1093/ornithology/ukab041 |url=https://academic.oup.com/auk/article-pdf/138/3/ukab041/38893090/ukab041.pdf}}</ref>