Northern Goshawk

Northern Goshawk, Our Largest Accipiter

Northern Goshawk [Dorothy Chase Photo]

The Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) is our largest Accipiter, a group of short-winged, long-tailed raptors three species of which occur in North America and 46 around the world.  The other two North American accipiters also occur here in New Brunswick, the Cooper's Hawk and the Sharp-shinned Hawk.  Our Northern Goshawk is called 'Northern' because it has a southern relative, the (Southern) Pale Chanting Goshawk which occurs in eastern and southern Africa.

And while we are on names, the name, goshawk, is derived from goose hawk and is still pronounced in two syllables denoting the two original words, 'gos hawk'.  There is no 'sh' sound in goshawk!  Also interesting is its Latin name, Accipiter gentilis.  In medieval times only nobles and the upper class were permitted to use goshawks for falconry.  The nobility was known as the 'gentility', the 'gentle class'.  Thus the goshawk became A. gentilis.

The Northern Goshawk is 53-66 cm long (21-26 in).  Both adult males and females look alike but the females are usually larger.  These are thick-bodied hawks with wide wings.  The tail is long with light and dark gray intermittent bands.  The adult is dark gray above and light gray below with faint barring and vertical stripes on the breast.  There is a bold white or light-gray superciliary line (eyebrow), an important identifying feature.  The eye is red.  The juvenile is brown above with heavy mottling on its back.  Underneath it is light whitish beige covered with heavy dark vertical streaks.  The juvenile has dark and light brown alternating bands in its tail.  In both the adult and the juvenile there is very little white on the tip of the tail.  The juvenile has a yellow eye but also shows the identifying light-coloured superciliary line.

Northern Goshawk Juvenile [Internet Photo]

The only other species that one might mistake the Northern Goshawk for here in NB would be the Cooper's Hawk.  But the Cooper's has red barring on its breast and no 'eyebrow'.  The juvenile Cooper's Hawk is brownish like the juvenile Northern Goshawk but it has a longer rounded tail with a noticeable white tip and no superciliary line on the head.  It also has a larger-appearing head.

The Northern Goshawk loves the northern forest.  It breeds in our deep coniferous and deciduous forests.  It is an uncommon permanent resident here and also a migrant when northern birds move south in winter.  The normal range of this species includes all of Canada from the treeline south.  Its range extends into the US about to the mid-states (north to south) and more southward in mountainous areas.  

Goshawks feed on birds, mammals, reptiles and invertebrates.  They can take relatively large prey, for example, a pheasant or a dove.  This species nests high up in a large tree.  Its nest is made of sticks and twigs and is lined with bark, leaves, and conifer needles.  Incubation is 36 to 41 days and is carried out by the female.  Northern Goshawks are known for their fierce defence of their nests.  They will attack humans if they come anywhere near the nest.  They are very vocal around the nest, making a loud kek-kek-kek-kek sound.  I have been near a nest and believe me, there is no doubt that you are in 'their' territory!

Northern Goshawks also inhabit Europe and Asia.  Their world population is presently listed as stable.  Fortunately they have survived the falconry insult levied on this species in earlier times!  An interesting fact about this species is that an image of a goshawk was emblazoned on the helmet of Attila the Hun.  He knew how to represent fierceness!  For us, the Northern Goshawk is a species we should consider when we are trying to identify a large hawk in winter.

Northern Goshawk Male [Eric Forgues Photo]