The boreal forest is characterized by a range of productivity cycles that affect food webs, which, in turn, are also partly affected by climate. We analysed sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus) data collected at the Observatoire d’oiseaux de Tadoussac (Tadoussac, Québec) between 1996 and 2010 taking into consideration the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) (a climate index), local summer precipitation and prey abundance. Fall migration of juvenile sharp-shinned hawks occurred earlier than that of adults, and the migration periods of the 2 age groups did not overlap. The fall abundance of sharp-shinned hawks, and especially of juveniles, was positively correlated with the NAO index for the previous winter and negatively correlated with precipitation figures for June and July (which were also correlated with the NAO). Our results also show a positive correlation between summer prey abundance, especially of Swainson’s thrush (Catharus ustulatus) and dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis), and fall abundance of sharp-shinned hawks. The positive correlation between the fall abundance of sharp-shinned hawks and the NAO index for the preceding winter, suggests that climate influences the population dynamics of this species. Mild winters with abundant snowfall are often followed by wet summers that result in a lower production of young sharp-shinned hawks. This seems to be related to the lower availability of prey during summers with above normal precipitation levels.