The Sharp-shinned Hawk is distributed throughout most of North and Central America and into the Andes and much of eastern South America. See the distribution map at Birdlife International. It is found in a wide variety of forest habitats.

There are 10 sub-species divided into 3 groups. Some authorities split the species and, in this case the birds in the Andes of South America become the Plain-breasted Hawk A. ventralis. This has three morphs: dark, pale and rufous. This bird is a pale morph.

It is a highly specialised predator of smaller birds and, while it perches in the forest, it hunts in the open.