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Wildlife
- Birds - |
Northern Goshawk
(Accipiter gentilis) Y |
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RANGE: Breeds from western and central Alaska and northern Yukon
to Labrador and Newfoundland, south to southern Alaska, central
California, southern New Mexico, western South Dakota, northern
Minnesota, and northwestern Connecticut, and in the northern
Appalachian Mountains. Winters throughout the breeding range may
extend as far south as the Gulf States during periodic invasions
related to food shortage.
STATUS: Uncommon to rare but increasing; range is expanding
southward in Appalachians.
HABITAT: Inhabits mixed hardwood and coniferous forests in
temperate and boreal regions, from sea level to tree line.
Prefers woodlands with intermediate canopy coverage interspersed
with fields or wetlands, especially in remote areas.
SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Extensive mixed woodlands with
large trees for nesting. Strongest nesting habitat
association in mixed coniferous forests from subalpine to
ponderosa pine zones.
NEST: Prefers to nest in large hardwood trees 30 to 40 feet
above ground, where clear, level access is afforded by a stream
or other opening. Frequently selects birch, maple, aspen, and
beech for nesting trees; occasionally selects juniper, pine,
spruce, and fir. Usually builds a new nest each year, but may
build on top of an old hawk nest.
FOOD: Hunts for prey in dense woodlands, clearings, and open
fields. In one study, its diet consisted of 54 percent birds, 37
percent mammals, and 9 percent insects. Eats grouse, quail,
pheasants, small hawks, owls, crows, gulls, ducks, doves,
thrushes, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, mice, woodchucks,
muskrats, weasels, shrews, grasshoppers, and caterpillars. .
REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Cramp and Simmons 1980, DeGraff
et al. 1980, Evans in Farrand 1983a, Heintzelman 1979, Jones
1979, McAtee 1935, Miller 1999, Shunk 2004, Shuster 1980, Terres
1980. |
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