Northern Goshawk
Northern Goshawk Information
Length: 19 - 26"
Breeding Habitat:
In the Northeast, the Northern Goshawk is most often found in coniferous or mixed forests containing large trees for nesting.
This hawk prefers habitat with access to small forest openings such as woodland roads, logging trails or areas with downed trees. It favors, but does not require, sites in proximity to water such as streams, ponds, and lakes.
Diet:
In the Northeast, the Northern Goshawk
feeds predominately on medium-sized birds, such as jays, crows, woodpeckers and grouse, and small to medium-sized mammals, including chipmunks, squirrels, snowshoe hares and rabbits.
Calls of the Northern Goshawk
Additional Photos and Information
Northern GoshawkPhoto of this hawk, identifying characteristics, range, habitat, nesting, feeding habits, conservation status. (From the Raptor Center)
Northern Goshawk in Flight|
(near adult)
Northern Goshawk
Identification Tips
- Sexes similar, but females much larger
- Medium-sized, broad-winged, long-tailed hawk
- Short, dark, hooked beak
- Rounded wings
- Long tail rounded at tip
- Flies with several flaps and short glide, also soars frequently
- Short, dark, hooked beak
- Long, very thick tarsi appear short at rest
Adult
- Red eye
- Blackish head and face with bold white supercilium
- Gray back and upperwings
- Pale gray chin, throat, breast, underwing coverts and belly finely vermiculate
- White undertail coverts
- Tail dark blue-gray above and pale below, barred with dark bands
- Flight feathers dark blue-gray above and pale below, barred with black
(Credit: U. S. Geological Survey)
Northern Goshawk
Breeding Bird Survey Map,
2011-2015
(Image credit: USGS)
Northern Goshawk
Range Maps from Cornell
Northern Goshawk year-round and nonbreeding range
Includes separate map of sightings.
Northern Goshawk
Christmas Bird Count Map
Historical CBC Map from USGS