The Northern Goshawk
While most Hawks tend to dive and soar over open plains and meadows, the Goshawk is a remarkable specialist.
This bird-of-prey has evolved short, powerful wings and a rudder-like tail that permit it to dart among trees beneath the forest canopy.
A voracious predator of: - Squirrels
- Rabbits
- Jays
- Snowshoe hares
- Songbirds
- Flickers
- Most small rodents
This accipiters importance to a forest eco-system can not be understated. Unfortunately, because mature and old growth forest are becoming rarer and rarer, so is the bird.
There are efforts underway to protect remaining habitat, particularly on the west coast. For instance, the Center for Biological Diversity is challenging both the timbering of vital forests and the construction of roads in the raptors habitat.
| Beauty and courage, swiftness and strength, mean something to us; and we shall find these qualities in high degree in the hawks of the Accipiter clan. Especially is this true of the largest and strongest of them, the Goshawk, one of the deadliest, handsomest, bravest birds-of-prey in the world. (Sass, 1930) |
Facts
- Within their range, each pair of this raptor builds up to 9 nest sites. However, they only defend one, thus allowing other species to nest including the Spotted Owl and Great Gray Owls, Cooper's Hawks, Red-Tailed Hawks, Great Horned Owls, Short-eared Owls, and many others.
- Wing span = 39”
- Length = 19”
- Known to dive at humans whom have wandered too close to a nesting site.
- Have been known to kill other raptor species including Sharp-shinned Hawks, Long-eared Owls, ed-tailed Hawks, and even their own kind.
- Feeds on birds by catching them in the air; feeds on small mammals by swooping down on them.
- Nest is a platform nest of sticks, typically lined with bark and placed in the crotch of a tree. Nests have been recorded as low as 18 feet and as high as 75 feet.
Identification Issues
Very similar to Cooper’s Hawk, particular in the immature state. However, the immature Goshawk will have a darker chest than Cooper Hawk. The adult's chest will be an off-white color whereas the Cooper’s Hawk will be tan.
The raptors range includes all of America and Canada West of the Rocky Mountains, but only in the north East of the Rocky Mountains. The Cooper’s Hawk ranges all over America and Southern Canada—the raptor winters in Central America.
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