Northern Goshawk
(Genus, species: Accipiter gentilis)
If you're an avid birdwatcher, the Northern Goshawk is one
bird you'll likely want to view from a distance. It is a very aggressive
bird that will swoop and possibly attack anything that comes too close for
comfort.
Having said that it's a very beautiful
raptor,
both in and out of flight.
|
 |
|
Summer Locations
Thanks to the U. S. Geological Survey for this image |
General:
Generally
found in remote northern areas in North America, Europe and Asia.
|
|
Description - male:
Northern Goshawks are large birds, 20 to 23 inches long with a wingspan of 40 to
43 inches.
Northern Goshawks have a dark gray to black
crown,
white eyebrow and black eyeline. The rest of their face, throat,
breast and belly are white to light gray with fine vertical barring.
They have a blue-gray back. wings and tail and piercing red eyes.
Description - female: same as the
male, though slightly larger -- 23 to 25 inches long with a wingspan of 43 to 46
inches.
Description - young:
Newly hatched chicks are white to light gray. When immature, the
goshawk is a brownish color with pale underparts.
|
 |
|
Feeding:
Northern Goshawks feed mainly on grouse, ground squirrels, tree
squirrels, jays, songbirds and rabbits.
|
 |
|
Habitat:
Northern Goshawks nest in deep woods, high in trees. Because they
prefer deep woods and tall trees, the logging of old growth forests have
caused a decline in the population of these birds (they are not
endangered though).
When not breeding, the Goshawks can also be seen on
forest edges, parks and agricultural areas.
|
|
Nesting:
Northern Goshawks build a large nest of sticks and twigs. Within
their territory, a breeding pair may build as many as 9 nests each of
which they'll often reuse for several years.
Although the goshawks maintain up to 9 nests, they
only defend 1 each year. The remaining nests are often 'borrowed'
by owls, squirrels and hawks.
The female typically lays a
clutch
of 3 pale blue eggs (though the number can range anywhere from 2 to 5).
The eggs are not laid all at once. Instead the female waits 2 or 3
days between each egg.
The eggs typically take about a month to incubate.
It is mainly the female that sits on the nest during this time, though
the male does help long enough for her to feed herself.
Once the eggs hatch, the female stays with them for 3
to 4 weeks. During this time, the male must provide food for the
female and nestlings.
|
| Enemies: The
Northern Goshawks are tough birds with few enemies. They are
somewhat more vulnerable during nesting times when other large hawks,
owls, tree climbing bears or lynx may kill a goshawk -- typically the
young ones. |
Lynx |
|
Migration:
Most Northern Goshawks remain in their territory year round, moving only
to find prey. However migration does occur in late August to early
September with the birds returning to their nesting areas in February.
|
Worksheets and Other Activities:
|
