221-436: (Redirected from Northern Goshawk ) The northern goshawk has been split into two species based on significant morphological and genetic differences: Eurasian goshawk , Accipiter gentilis American goshawk , Accipiter atricapillus [REDACTED] Index of animals with the same common name This page is an index of articles on animal species (or higher taxonomic groups) with
442-424: A crow -like, but more hurried gait) into dense thickets and brambles (especially in pursuit of galliforms trying to escape), as well as into water (i.e. usually waterfowl ). Anecdotal cases have been reported when goshawks have pursue domestic prey into barns and even houses. Prey pursuits may become rather prolonged depending upon the goshawk's determination and hunger, ranging up to 15 minutes while harrying
663-745: A 1,754 km (677 sq mi) study area on the Kaibab Plateau, AZ, resulting in a density of 8.4 pairs/100 km (39 sq mi). The estimated density in Pennsylvania (1.17 pairs/100 km (39 sq mi)) suggests that eastern populations may occur at lower densities than western populations, but densities of eastern populations may increase as these populations recover. Typically, populations at far northern latitudes may occur at lower densities than those of southwestern and western populations in North America. Although median densities
884-522: A 26% difference. Overall, one prey family that is known to be taken in nearly every part of the goshawk's range is the corvids, although they do not necessarily dominate the diet in all areas. Some 24 species have been reported in the diet of Eurasian and American goshawks. The second most commonly reported prey species in breeding season dietary studies from North America is the 128 g (4.5 oz) Steller's jay ( Cyanocitta stelleri ). These species were recorded in studies from northwestern Oregon and
1105-525: A 89 to 122 cm (35 to 48 in) wingspan. The female is much larger, 58 to 69 cm (23 to 27 in) long with a 108 to 127 cm (43 to 50 in) wingspan. Males average around 762 g (1.680 lb) in body mass, with a range from all races of 357 to 1,200 g (0.787 to 2.646 lb). The female can be up to more than twice as heavy, averaging from the same races 1,150 g (2.54 lb) with an overall range of 758 to 2,200 g (1.671 to 4.850 lb). Among standard measurements,
1326-427: A barred tail, with 3 to 5 dark brown or black bars. Adults always have a white eye stripe or supercilia , which tends to be broader in northern Eurasian and North American birds. In Europe and Asia, juveniles have pale-yellow eyes while adults typically develop orange-colored eyes, though some may have only brighter yellow or occasionally ochre or brownish eye color. Moulting starts between late March and late May,
1547-528: A bold white "U" on the uppertail coverts. The roadside hawk ( Rupornis magnirostris ) (rarely in same range in Mexico) is noticeably smaller with paddle-shaped wings, barred lower breast and a buff “U” on undertail coverts in young birds. Somewhat less likely to confuse despite their broader extent of overlap are the red-shouldered hawk ( Buteo lineatus ) which have a narrow white-barred, dark-looking tail, bold white crescents on their primaries and dark wing edges and
1768-462: A brown malar stripe as well as its more extensive barring both above and below. Juveniles are sometimes confused with the smaller Cooper's hawk ( Astur cooperii ), especially juvenile Cooper's hawks. Unlike in Europe with sparrowhawks, Cooper's hawks can have a largish appearance and juveniles may be regularly mistaken for the usually less locally numerous goshawk. However, the juvenile goshawk displays
1989-451: A certain degree) may be confused with them on occasion despite the differing proportions of these hawks, which all have longer wings and shorter tails relative to their size. A species so similar it is sometimes nicknamed the "Mexican goshawk", gray hawk ( Buteo plagiatus ) juveniles (overlapping with true goshawks in the southwest United States into Mexico) have contrasting face pattern with bold dusky eye-stripes, dark eyes, barred thighs and
2210-912: A chewed wing, only to drown in a nearby creek. Another, and rather gruesome, hunting mishap occurred when a goshawk caught a large mountain hare and, while attempting to hold it in place by grasping vegetation with its other foot, was torn in half. The northern goshawk is one of the most extensively studied raptors in terms of its breeding habits. Adult goshawks return to their breeding grounds usually between March and April, but locally as early as February. If prey levels remain high, adults may remain on their breeding ground all year. Courtship flights, calls and even nest building has been recorded in Finland exceptionally in September and October right after young dispersed, whereas in most of Fennoscandia , breeding does not commence any earlier than March and even then only when it
2431-567: A diversity of hues and patterns. As a result of the high variation of individual goshawks in plumage characteristics and typical trends in clinal variation and size variations that largely follow Bergmann's rule and Gloger's rule , an excessive number of subspecies have been described for the northern goshawk in the past. In Europe (including European Russia ) alone, 12 subspecies were described between 1758 and 1990. Most modern authorities agree on listing nine to ten subspecies of northern goshawks from throughout its range. The Eurasian goshawk
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#17328454630252652-432: A female goshawk although are basically half of what these marmots can weigh by fall. About a dozen species of chipmunk are known to be taken by goshawks and the 96 g (3.4 oz) eastern chipmunks ( Tamias striatus ) were the second most numerous prey species at nests in central New York and Minnesota . Squirrels taken have ranged in size from the 43 g (1.5 oz) least chipmunk ( Tamias minimus ) to
2873-450: A few kilometers apart. As is typical in various birds of prey, small prey tends to be underrepresented in prey remains below habitual perches and nests (as only present in skeletal remains within pellets) whereas pellets underrepresent large prey (which is usually dismantled away from the nest) and so a combined study of both remains and pellets is recommended to get a full picture of goshawks' diets. Prey selection also varies by season and
3094-463: A few prey families dominate the diet in most parts of the range, namely corvids , pigeons , grouse , pheasants , thrushes and woodpeckers (in roughly descending order of importance) among birds and squirrels (mainly tree squirrels but also ground squirrels especially in North America) and rabbits and hares among mammals. Birds constitute 47.8% in 33 studies and mammals account for
3315-504: A given mountain range's tree line , which is usually 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in elevation or less. In winter months, the northernmost or high mountain populations move down to warmer forests with lower elevations, often continuing to avoid detection except while migrating. A majority of goshawks around the world remain sedentary throughout the year. The juvenile plumage of the species may cause some confusion, especially with other juvenile Astur species. Unlike other northern Astur ,
3536-502: A given mountain range's tree line , which is usually 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in elevation or less. The northern limit of their distribution also coincides with the tree line and here may adapt to dwarf tree communities , often along drainages of the lower tundra . In winter months, the northernmost or high mountain populations move down to warmer forests with lower elevations, often continuing to avoid detection except while migrating. A majority of goshawks remain sedentary throughout
3757-431: A grey or white base color below, but Asian subspecies in particular range from nearly white overall to nearly black above. Goshawks tend to show clinal variation in color, with most goshawks further north being paler and those in warmer areas being darker but individuals can be either dark in the north or pale in the south. Individuals that live a long life may gradually become paler as they age, manifesting in mottling and
3978-858: A heavier, vertical streaking pattern on chest and abdomen, with the juvenile Cooper's hawk streaking frequently (but not always) in a “teardrop” pattern wherein the streaking appears to taper at the top, as opposed to the more even streaking of the goshawk. The goshawk sometimes seems to have a shorter tail relative to its much broader body. Although there appears to be a size overlap between small male goshawks and large female Cooper's hawks, morphometric measurements (wing and tail length) of both species demonstrate no such overlap, although weight overlap can rarely occur due to variation in seasonal condition and food intake at time of weighing. The genus Astur contains nine living species. This group of agile, smallish, forest-dwelling hawks has been in existence for possibly tens of millions of years, probably as an adaptation to
4199-844: A highly nutritious food source. In Finland , females were found to take mountain hare ( Lepus timidus ) fairly often and they were the second most numerous prey item for goshawks in winter (14.8% by number). In some parts of the range, larger leporids may be attacked, extending to the 3,800 g (8.4 lb) European hares ( Lepus europaeus ), as well as the mountain hare. In Europe, males have been recorded successfully attacking rabbits weighing up to 1,600 g (3.5 lb), or about 2.2 times their own weight, while adult mountain hares overtaken by female goshawks in Fennoscandia have weighed from 2,700 to 3,627 g (5.952 to 7.996 lb) or up to 2.4 times their own weight. Despite historic claims that taking prey so considerably larger than themselves
4420-422: A hundred passerines have been recorded their diet beyond these families. Most widespread passerine families from Europe have occasional losses to goshawks, including vireos , larks , swallows , nuthatches , treecreepers , wrens , Old World warblers , Old World flycatchers , pipits and wagtails , starlings , emberizine sparrows , finches and Old World sparrows . Avian prey has even ranged to as small as
4641-428: A hundred passerines have been recorded their diet beyond these families. Most widespread passerine families from North America and Europe have occasional losses to goshawks, including tyrant flycatchers , shrikes , vireos , larks , swallows , nuthatches , treecreepers , mimids , pipits and wagtails , starlings , New World warblers , cardinalids , icterids , finches . Avian prey has even ranged to as small as
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#17328454630254862-575: A large portion of the diet. Perhaps the most often recorded water birds in the diet are ducks . All told, 32 waterfowl have been recorded in Eurasian and American goshawks' diet. In the Ural mountains , the nearly cosmopolitan 1,075 g (2.370 lb) mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos ) was third most numerous prey species. The ducks of the genus Aythya are somewhat frequently recorded as well, especially since their tree-nesting habits may frequently put them in
5083-527: A large portion of the diet. Perhaps the most often recorded water birds in the diet are ducks . All told, 32 waterfowl have been recorded in Eurasian and American goshawks' diet. The ducks of the genus Aythya are somewhat frequently recorded as well, especially since their tree-nesting habits may frequently put them in the hunting range of nesting goshawks. Similarly, the wood duck ( Aix sponsa ) frommay be more vulnerable than most waterfowl at their tree nests. Adult common eiders ( Somateria mollissima ),
5304-451: A largely urbanized environment in Germany explains the local prevalence of hunting from a soaring flight, as the urban environment provides ample thermals and obstructing tall buildings which are ideal for hunting pigeons on the wing. Northern goshawks rarely vary from their perch-hunting style that typifies the initial part of their hunt but seems to be able to show nearly endless variation to
5525-579: A larger number than kestrels recorded alive in the spring in the same area. In the Veluwe province of the Netherlands , the percentage of nest of European honey buzzards ( Pernis apivorus ), weighing on average 760 g (1.68 lb), predated by goshawks increased from a little as 7.7% in 1981–1990 to 33% in 2000–2004. As their habitat preferences may overlap with goshawks, all other Accipiter species encountered may be predated in multiple cases, including
5746-527: A lightening of the back from a darker shade to a bluer pale color. Its plumage is more variable than that of the Eurasian sparrowhawk ( Accipiter nisus ), which is probably due to higher genetic variability in the larger goshawk. The juvenile Eurasian goshawk is usually a solid to mildly streaky brown above, with many variations in underside color from nearly pure white to almost entirely overlaid with broad dark cinnamon-brown striping. Both juveniles and adults have
5967-515: A majority of dietary studies are conducted within the breeding season, leaving a possibility of bias for male-selected prey, whereas recent advanced in radio-tagging have allowed a broader picture of goshawks' fairly different winter diet (without needing to kill goshawks to examine their stomach contents). Northern goshawks have a varied diet that has reportedly included over 500 species from across its range, and at times their prey spectrum can extend to nearly any available kind of bird or mammal except
6188-575: A majority of owls are at best a secondary contributor to goshawk diets, even though 26 species have been reported in their diet. Exceptionally, in a study of the Carpathian mountains of Ukraine , the 27.5 g (0.97 oz) common vole ( Microtus arvalis ) was the second most numerous prey species. Relatively high numbers of the 18.4 g (0.65 oz) bank vole ( Clethrionomys glareolus ) were reported in diets from Poland in Gmina Sobótka and
6409-426: A more forceful attack than that of the red-tailed hawk. All in all, individual competitions between red-tailed hawks and goshawks can go either way and neither is strongly likely to deter the other from nesting given their distinct nesting habitats. Other raptors, including most medium to large-sized owls as well as red-tailed hawks and falcons, will use nests built by northern goshawks, even when goshawks are still in
6630-499: A nearly equal portion of the diet and in some areas rather dominate the food spectrum. There is some difference in size and type between the prey caught by males and larger females. Prey selection between sexes is more disparate in the more highly dimorphic races from Eurasia than those from North America. The average prey caught by each sex in Arizona was 281.5 g (9.93 oz) and 380.4 g (13.42 oz), respectively, or around
6851-749: A nest can range up to 160 cm (63 in) across and 120 cm (47 in) in depth and can weigh up to a ton when wet. Northern goshawks may adopt nests of other species, common buzzards contributed 5% of nests used in Schleswig-Holstein, including unusually exposed ones on edges of woods and another 2% were built by common ravens or carrion crows , but 93% were built by the goshawks themselves. While colonising peri-urban areas in Europe, they may displace Eurasian sparrowhawks not only from their territories but may actually try to use overly small sparrowhawk nests, usually resulting in nest collapse. One nest
Northern goshawk - Misplaced Pages Continue
7072-469: A northern goshawks have been considered as prey, although it is not clear whether adults are among the victims, including the 1,147 g (2.529 lb) crested honey-buzzard ( Pernis ptilorhynchus ) and the 1,370 g (3.02 lb) lesser spotted eagle ( Clanga pomarina ). Outside of the accipitrid group, heavy predation on different varieties of raptorial birds by Eurasian goshawks can be significant. Many types of owl are taken and in Europe ,
7293-528: A person snapping the tongue away from the roof the mouth; the males produce it by holding the beak wide open, thrusting the head up and forward, then bringing it down as the sound is emitted, repeated at intervals of five seconds. This call is uttered when the male encounters a female. In a study in France, calling mainly peaked in late courtship/early nesting around late March to April, can begin up to 45 minutes before sunrise, and are more than twice in as frequent in
7514-403: A prepared fresh prey item to the female as part of the courtship. In general, these displays are presumably to show (or reinforce) to the potential mate their health and prowess as breeding partner. Copulation is brief and frequent, ranging up to nearly 520 times per clutch (on average about 10 times a day or 100-300 throughout the season), and may be the male's way of ensuring paternity since he
7735-587: A rough 45% difference. Northern goshawks often select young prey during spring and summer, attacking both nestling and fledgling birds and infant and yearling mammals, as such prey is often easiest to catch and convenient to bring to the nest. In general, goshawks in Fennoscandia , shift their prey selection to when the birds produce their young: first waterfowl , then quickly to corvids and thrushes and then lastly to grouse , even though adults are also freely caught opportunistically for all these prey types. This
7956-415: A rusty color to its underside barring. In Eurasia , the smaller male goshawk is sometimes confused with a female sparrowhawk , but is still notably larger, much bulkier and has relatively longer wings, which are more pointed and less boxy. Sparrowhawks tend to fly in a frequently flapping, fluttering type flight. Wing beats of northern goshawks are deeper, more deliberate, and on average slower than those of
8177-428: A separate pair on record was 400 m (1,300 ft) in central Europe, another case of two active nests 200 m (660 ft) apart in Germany was a possible case of polygamy. The eggs are laid at 2- to 3-day intervals on average between April and June (usually May), taking up to 9 days for a clutch of 3–4 and 11 days for a clutch of 5. The eggs are rough, unmarked pale bluish or dirty white. In Spanish eggs,
8398-496: A single goshawks are around 120 to 150 g (4.2 to 5.3 oz) and most kills can feed a goshawk for 1 to 3 days. Northern goshawks sometimes cache prey on tree branches or wedged in a crotch between branches for up to 32 hours. This is done primarily during the nestling stage. Hunting success rates have been very roughly estimated at 15–30%, within average range for a bird of prey, but may be reported as higher elsewhere. One study claimed hunting success rates for pursuing rabbits
8619-418: A terrified, agile squirrel or hare , and occasional pair hunting may benefit goshawks going after agile prey. As is recorded in many accipitrids, hunting in pairs (or " tandem hunting ") normally consist of a breeding pair, with one bird flying conspicuously to distract the prey, while the other swoops in from behind to ambush the victim. Prey is killed by driving the talons into the quarry and squeezing while
8840-723: A trend for females to be taken more so than males while hunting adult gamebirds, due to the larger size and more developed defenses of males (such as leg spurs present for defense and innerspecies conflicts in male of most pheasant species). Some authors have claimed this of male ring-necked pheasant ( Phasianus cochilus ), but these trends are not reported everywhere, as in southern Sweden equal numbers of adult male and female ring-necked pheasants, both sexes averaging 1,135 g (2.502 lb), were taken. While male goshawks can take black and hazel grouse of any age and thence deliver them to nests, they can only take capercaillie of up to adult hen size, averaging some 1,800 g (4.0 lb),
9061-448: A trill at a given chance. Nesting areas are indefinite, a nest may be used for several years, also a nest built years prior may be used or an entirely new nest may be constructed. When nest constructing, the pair will often roost together. Males construct most new nests but females may assist somewhat if reinforcing old nests. While the male is building, the female perches in the vicinity, occasionally screaming, sometimes flying to inspect
Northern goshawk - Misplaced Pages Continue
9282-549: A very small population persists in the extreme northeast corner of North Dakota . They breed also in mountainous areas of New England , New York , central Pennsylvania , and northwestern New Jersey , sporadically down to extreme northwestern Maryland and northeastern West Virginia . Vagrants have been reported in most of the parts of the United States in which they do not breed. American and Eurasian goshawks can be found in both deciduous and coniferous forests . While
9503-472: Is a species of medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae , a family which also includes other extant diurnal raptors, such as eagles , buzzards and harriers . It was formerly placed in the genus Accipiter . It is a widespread species that inhabits many of the temperate parts of the Eurasia . Except in a small portion of southern Asia , it is the only species of "goshawk" in its range and it
9724-442: Is a species of raptor in the family Accipitridae. It was first described by Alexander Wilson in 1812. The American goshawk was previously considered conspecific with the Eurasian goshawk but was assigned to a separate species in 2023 based on differences in morphology, vocalizations, and genetic divergence. It was formerly placed in the genus Accipiter . It is mainly resident , but birds from colder regions migrate south for
9945-405: Is a warm spring. Most breeding activity occurs between April and July, exceptionally a month earlier or later. Courtship flights typical are above the canopy on sunny, relatively windless days in early spring with the goshawks' long main tail feathers held together and the undertail coverts spread so wide to give them an appearance of having a short, broad-tail with a long dark strip extending from
10166-504: Is between about 10 and 30% of their own mass, whereas the mean prey of American goshawks is between about 25 and 50% of their mass and therefore are the goshawks takes prey that is on average relatively much larger. In many of the ecosystems that they inhabit, American goshawks compete with resources with other predators, particularly where they take sizeable numbers of lagomorphs. About a dozen mammalian and avian predators in each area primarily consume snowshoe hares alongside goshawks in
10387-681: Is considered generally rare, the young chicks and poults of such prey species are likely much more often taken. Despite reports that grouse are less significant as prey to American goshawks, the 560 g (1.23 lb) ruffed grouse ( Bonasa umbellus ) is one of the most important prey species in North America (fourth most reported prey species in 22 studies), having been the leading prey species for goshawks in studies from New York , New Jersey and Connecticut (from 12 to 25% of prey selected) and reported as taken in high numbers elsewhere in several parts of their mutual range. The 1,056 g (2.328 lb) sooty grouse ( Dendragapus fuliginosus )
10608-410: Is distributed in Eurasia . It is found in most areas of Europe excluding Ireland and Iceland . It has a fairly spotty distribution in western Europe (e.g. Great Britain , Spain , France ) but is more or less found continuously through the rest of the continent. Their Eurasian distribution sweeps continuously across most of Russia, excluding the fully treeless tundra in the northern stretches, to
10829-732: Is exceptional beyond a small region of Fennoscandia , there is evidence that as grouse numbers have mysteriously declined since 1960, adult mountain hare are increasingly the leading prey for wintering female goshawks, favouring and causing an increase of larger bodied females in order to overpower such a substantial catch. Eurasian goshawks also take about a half dozen species of pikas in Asia, much smaller cousins of rabbits and hares, but they are at best supplementary prey for American goshawks and of unknown importance to little-studied Eurasian goshawks. Some 21 species of woodpecker have been reported from Eurasian and American goshawk food studies around
11050-399: Is fairly different from Vendsyssel , Denmark , where mostly adult birds were caught except for thrushes and corvids, as in these two groups, the goshawks caught mostly fledglings. Overall, one prey family that is known to be taken in nearly every part of the goshawk's range is the corvids, although they do not necessarily dominate the diet in all areas. Some 24 species have been reported in
11271-457: Is frequently away gathering food by the time of egg-laying, although extra-pair copulation is extremely rare. Female solicits copulations by facing away from male with drooped wings and flared tail-coverts. The male, wings drooped and tail-coverts flared, drops from a branch to gain momentum, then swoops upward and mounts her back. Both birds usually call while mating. Fidelity studies from Europe show that about 80–90% of adult females breed with
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#173284546302511492-539: Is in Connecticut where the mourning dove ( Zenaida macroura ), the smallest known pigeon or dove the goshawk has hunted at 119 g (4.2 oz), was the second most numerous prey species. The American goshawk is in some parts of its range considered a specialized predator of gamebirds , particularly grouse . All told 33 species of this order have turned up in American and Eurasian goshawks ' diet, including most of
11713-480: Is likely to survive to fledge without the male's contribution of prey. At other times the mother may be replaced, sometimes forcefully, by another female, usually an older mature one. Exceptional cases of polygamy, with a male mating with two females, have been reported in Germany and The Netherlands and typically these breeding attempts fail. American goshawk The American goshawk ( Astur atricapillus )
11934-471: Is lost, a replacement can be laid within 15 to 30 days. During incubation, females tend to become quieter and more inconspicuous. The mother can develop a brooding patch of up to 15 by 5 cm (5.9 by 2.0 in) on her underside. She may turn the eggs as frequently as every 30 to 60 minutes. Males may incubate as many as 1 to 3 hours, but usually less than an hour, early in incubation but rarely do so later on. During daylight females can do as much as 96% of
12155-474: Is not uncommon in goshawk home ranges but seems to not be a requirement. Narrow tree-lined riparian zones in otherwise relatively open habitats can provide suitable wintering habitat in the absence of more extensive woodlands. The American goshawk can be found at almost any altitude, but recently is typically found at high elevations due to a paucity of extensive forests remaining in lowlands across much of its range. Altitudinally, goshawks may live anywhere up to
12376-700: Is often most reported from this family and can even be the main prey at some locations such as in the Netherlands (23.5% of prey by number) and in Norway (just over 14% by number and two studies showed thrushes collectively make up nearly half of the prey items in Norwegian nests). All common Turdus species are taken in some numbers in Europe, being quite regular and conspicuous in the woodland edge zones most often patrolled by male goshawks, especially while singing in spring and summer. Even where larger, more nutritious prey
12597-528: Is one of the most dangerous species to other raptors, especially to those considerably smaller than itself. In many cases, raptors of any age from nestlings to adults are taken around their nests but free-flying raptors too are readily taken or ambushed at a perch. One example is a study from northern England , common kestrels ( Falco tinnunculus ), which average about 184 g (6.5 oz), recorded as prey at goshawk nests (mainly in March and April) numbered 139,
12818-518: Is present such as at pheasant release sites, the abundant thrushes are more often delivered to the nest because of the ease of capture such as in Norway . Thrush taken have ranged in size from some small birds to the 118 g (4.2 oz) mistle thrush ( Turdus viscivorus ), Europe's largest thrush. Beyond corvids and thrushes, most passerines encountered by Eurasian goshawks are substantially smaller and are often ignored under most circumstances in favour of more sizable prey. Nonetheless, more than
13039-517: Is significant, being the primary prey in studies from Minnesota , South Dakota , Wyoming and Montana (in each comprising more than 30% of the diet and present in more than half of known pellets) but also reported everywhere in their foods from the eastern United States to Alaska and Arizona . Much like the American marten ( Martes americana ), the American distribution of goshawks is largely concurrent with that of American red squirrels, indicating
13260-421: Is smaller (roughly Cooper's hawk-sized) and has a slight crest as well as a distinct mixture of denser streaks and bars below and no supercilia. The northern goshawk is always found solitarily or in pairs. This species is highly territorial, as are most raptorial birds, maintaining regularly spaced home ranges that constitute their territory. Territories are maintained by adults in display flights. During nesting,
13481-480: Is thus often referred to, both officially and unofficially, as simply goshawk . It is mainly resident , but birds from colder regions migrate south for the winter. As of 2023, goshawks found in North America are no longer considered be conspecific, but are now designated as the American goshawk ( Astur atricapillus ). The Eurasian goshawk was formally described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in
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#173284546302513702-532: Is unknown as well as their benefit, but they may reduce significant levels of parasites and diseases within the nest. In central Europe, the goshawk's nest area can be as small 1 to 2 ha (2.5 to 4.9 acres) of woods and less than 10 hectares are commonplace. Nests are not typically found near forest edges, and usually only one active nest occurs per 100 ha (250 acres), with active nests from different breeding pairs being seldom less than 600 m (2,000 ft) apart. The most closely spaced active nests by
13923-446: The American southwest and Canada have indicated that heavily logged areas caused strong long-term regional declines for goshawks. In Arizona , it was found that even when the nests were left intact, the noisy timber harvest work often caused failure of nesting during the incubation stage, and all nesting attempts that were occurring within 50 to 100 m (160 to 330 ft) of active logging failed, frequently after parents abandoned
14144-670: The Bering Land Bridge . Fossil remains show that goshawks were present in California by the Pleistocene era . Two non-exclusive processes could have occurred to cause the notably color and size variation of northern goshawks throughout its range: isolation in the past enabled gene combinations to assort as distinct morphs that suited conditions in different geographical areas, followed by a remixing of these genotypes to result in clines, or subtle variation in modern selection pressures led to
14365-503: The Białowieża Forest . Other miscellaneous rodents reported sporadically in the diet include dormice , Old World mice and rats , zokors , gophers and jirds . Insectivores are taken in low numbers including moles , shrews and hedgehogs . Even more sporadically attacked by goshawks, given this prey's nocturnal habits, are bats . In one case a juvenile golden snub-nosed monkey ( Rhinopithecus roxellana ), which
14586-504: The Cooper's hawk of North America is also fairly closely related to the northern goshawk, having been present in North America before either of the other two North American Accipiters . However, the much smaller sharp-shinned hawk , which has similar plumage to the Cooper's hawk and seems to be most closely related to the Eurasian sparrowhawk , appears to have occupied North America the latest of
14807-563: The Eurasian oystercatcher ( Haematopus ostralegus ) and the long-tailed jaeger ( Stercorarius longicaudus ). Corvids as aforementioned are quite important prey. Although they take fewer passerines than other northern Accipiters , smaller types of songbirds can still be regionally important to the diet. This is especially true of the thrushes which are often delivered to nests in Europe. 17 species of thrush have been identified in goshawk food across their range. The numerous 103 g (3.6 oz) Eurasian blackbird ( Turdus merula )
15028-422: The Eurasian sparrowhawk . The classic Astur flight is a characteristic "flap flap, glide", but the goshawk, with its greater wing area, can sometimes be seen steadily soaring in migration (smaller Astur species almost always need to flap to stay aloft). Rarely, in the southern stretches of its Asian wintering range, the northern goshawk may live alongside the crested goshawk ( Lophospiza trivirgata ) which
15249-578: The Gulf of Mexico have been recorded at no fewer than 10 years apart. In one case, a female that was banded in Wisconsin was recovered 1,860 km (1,160 mi) in Louisiana , a first ever record of the species in that state. Prey availability may primarily dictate the proportion of goshawk populations that migrate and the selection of wintering areas, followed by the presence of snow which may aid prey capture in
15470-536: The Henst's goshawk of Madagascar and the black sparrowhawk ( Astur melanoleucus ) of the mainland. While the Henst's goshawk quite resembles the northern goshawks, the black sparrowhawk is superficially described as a "sparrowhawk" due to its relatively much longer and finer legs than those of typical goshawks but overall its size and plumage (especially that of juveniles) is much more goshawk than sparrowhawk-like. Outside of
15691-466: The Henst's goshawk of Madagascar and the black sparrowhawk ( Astur melanoleucus ) of the mainland. While the Henst's goshawk quite resembles the northern goshawks, the black sparrowhawk is superficially described as a “sparrowhawk” due to its relatively much longer and finer legs than those of typical goshawks but overall its size and plumage (especially that of juveniles) is much more goshawk than sparrowhawk-like. Genetic studies have indicated that
15912-767: The Kaibab Plateau of Arizona (where the Steller's made up 37% by number) as the main prey species by number. The conspicuously loud vocalizations, somewhat sluggish flight (when hunting adult or post-fledging individuals) and moderate size of these jays make them ideal for prey-gathering male goshawks. In the following areas Corvus species were the leading prey by number: the 457 g (1.008 lb) American crow ( Corvus brachyrhynchos ) in New York and Pennsylvania (44.8% by number). Despite evidence that northern goshawks avoid nesting near common ravens ( Corvus corax ),
16133-652: The Sciuridae have turned up in their foods. Tree squirrels are the most obviously co-habitants with goshawks and are indeed taken in high numbers. Alongside martens , northern goshawks are perhaps the most efficient temperate-zone predators of tree squirrels. Goshawks are large and powerful enough to overtake even the heaviest tree squirrels unlike smaller Accipiters and have greater agility and endurance in pursuits than do most buteonine hawks, some of which like red-tailed hawks ( Buteo jamaicensis ) regularly pursue tree squirrels but have relatively low hunting success rates due to
16354-709: The Sierra Madre Occidental as far as Jalisco and Guerrero , their worldwide southern limit as a breeding species. The goshawk continues east through much of Canada as a native species, but is rarer in most of the Eastern United States , especially the Midwest , where they are not typically found outside the Great Lakes region, where a good-sized breeding population occurs in the northern parts of Minnesota , Illinois , Michigan , and somewhat into Ohio ;
16575-494: The Strait of Gibraltar and Bosporus in autumn but further east more significant winter range expansions may extend from northern Iran and southern Turkmenia to Aral and Balkhash lakes , from Kashmir to Assam , extreme northwestern Thailand , northern Vietnam , southern China , Taiwan , Ryukyu Islands and South Korea . As typical of the genus Astur (as well as unrelated forest-dwelling raptors of various lineages),
16796-495: The boreal forests in North America , Scandinavia , and possibly Siberia , with more equal sex ratio of movement and a strong southward tendency of movements in years where prey such as hares and grouse crash. Male young goshawks tend to disperse farther than females, which is unusual in birds, including raptors. It has been speculated that larger female juveniles displace male juveniles, forcing them to disperse farther, to
17017-423: The broad-winged hawk ( Buteo playpterus ) which also has dark wing edges and a differing tapered wing shape. Even wintering gyrfalcon ( Falco rusticolus ) juveniles have been mistaken for goshawks and vice versa on occasion, especially when observed distantly perched. However, the bulkier, broader headed yet relatively shorter tailed falcon still has many tell-tale falcon characteristics like pointed, longer wings,
17238-417: The long-tailed jaeger ( Stercorarius longicaudus ). Corvids as aforementioned are quite important prey. Although they take fewer passerines than other northern Accipiters , smaller types of songbirds can still be regionally important to the diet. This is especially true of the thrushes . All common Turdus species are taken in some numbers. Smaller numbers of thrush are taken in general but
17459-407: The red grouse ( Lagopus scotica ) was found to be the leading prey species (26.2% of prey by number). In La Segarra , Spain , the 528 g (1.164 lb) red-legged partridge ( Alectoris rufa ) is the most commonly reported prey species (just over 18% by number and 24.5% by weight). Among mammalian prey, indisputably the most significant by number are the squirrels. All told, 44 members of
17680-409: The southwestern United States , annual mortality for adults is 15–21%, however, feather results indicate that annual mortality for adult Eurasian goshawks is up to 7% higher in Europe than American goshawks in North America. In many parts of the range, historic populations decreased regionally due to human persecution (especially shooting), disturbance and epidemic loss of habitat, especially during
17901-538: The tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Falco gentilis . It was formerly placed in the genus Accipiter . When molecular phylogenetic studies found that Accipiter was polyphyletic , the genus was split to create monophyletic genera. The genus Astur was resurrected to accommodate the Eurasian goshawk and eight other species that had previously been placed in Accipiter . The resurrected genus had originally been introduced in 1799 by
18122-597: The 1,065 g (2.348 lb) red-tailed hawk are known to be killed. American goshawks also pose a threat to osprey ( Pandion haliaetus ) chicks. The breeding range of the American goshawk extends over one-third of North America, a total area of over 30,000,000 km (12,000,000 sq mi) for Eurasian and American goshawk. There are a broadly estimated 150,000–300,000 individuals in North America. most western populations at mid-latitudes have approximately 3.6–10.7 pairs/100 km (39 sq mi). A total of 107 nesting territories (1991–1996) were located on
18343-410: The 176 g (6.2 oz) European green woodpecker ( Picus viridis ) in Europe. All sizes of woodpeckers available are taken from the 19.8 g (0.70 oz) lesser spotted woodpecker ( Dryobates minor ) to the 321 g (11.3 oz) black woodpecker ( Dryocopus martius ) in Europe. In many areas, Eurasian goshawks will pursue water birds of several varieties, although they rarely form
18564-564: The 19th century and early 20th. Some states, like Pennsylvania, paid $ 5 bounties on Goshawks in the 1930s. In the 1950s–1960s declines were increasingly linked with pesticide pollution . However, in early 1970s pesticide levels in the United States for goshawks were low. Eggshell thinning has not been a problem for most populations, although California eggshells (weight and thickness index) pre-1947 (pre-DDT) to 1947—1964 (DDT in use) declined some 8-12%. In Illinois , migratory goshawks during
18785-438: The 2,420 g (5.34 lb) greater white-fronted goose ( Anser albifrons ). Adult common eiders ( Somateria mollissima ), the largest northern duck at 2,066 g (4.555 lb), have also been captured by goshawks. Various other water birds reported as taken include red-throated loon ( Gavia stellata ) chicks, adult little grebes ( Tachybaptus ruficollis ), adult great cormorants ( Phalacrocorax carbo ) (about
19006-516: The 218 g (7.7 oz) Eurasian magpie ( Pica pica ) is also amongst the most widely reported secondary prey species for goshawks there. Magpies, like large jays, are rather slow fliers and can be handily outpaced by a pursuing goshawk. Some authors claim that taking of large corvids is a rare behaviour, due to their intelligence and complex sociality which in turn impart formidable group defenses and mobbing capabilities. One estimation claimed this to be done by about 1–2% of adult goshawks during
19227-425: The 238 g (8.4 oz) Eurasian sparrowhawk , the 188 g (6.6 oz) levant sparrowhawk ( Accipiter brevipes ), and the 122 g (4.3 oz) Japanese sparrowhawk ( Accipiter gularis ). Other assorted accipitrids of up to their own size to be predated by goshawks include the 747 g (1.647 lb) black kite ( Milvus migrans ), the 1,080 g (2.38 lb) red kite ( Milvus milvus ),
19448-643: The 490 g (1.08 lb) common wood pigeon ( Columba palumbus ) (the largest pigeon the goshawk naturally encounters and is known to hunt). The latter species was the main prey in the diet of northern goshawks from in the Germany-Netherlands border area (37.7% of 4125 prey items) and Wales (25.1% by number and 30.5% by biomass of total prey). It has been theorized that male goshawks in peri-urban regions may be better suited with their higher agility to ambushing feral pigeons in and amongst various manmade structures whereas females may be better suited due to
19669-403: The 5.5 g (0.19 oz) goldcrest ( Regulus regulus ), the smallest bird in Europe. Among smaller types of passerines, one of the most widely reported are finches and, in some widespread studies, somewhat substantial numbers of finches of many species may actually be taken. Finches tend to fly more conspicuously as they cover longer distances, often bounding or undulating as they do, over
19890-403: The 5.5 g (0.19 oz) goldcrest ( Regulus regulus ), the smallest bird in Europe. Among smaller types of passerines, one of the most widely reported are finches and, in some widespread studies, somewhat substantial numbers of finches of many species may actually be taken. Finches tend to fly more conspicuously as they cover longer distances, often bounding or undulating as they do, over
20111-449: The 530 g (1.17 lb) eastern gray squirrel ( Sciurus carolinensis ) was the third most significant prey species. Much larger tree squirrels such as western gray squirrels ( Sciurus griseus ) and fox squirrels ( Sciurus niger ), both weighing about 800 g (1.8 lb), are taken occasionally in North America. Ground squirrels are also important prey species, mostly in North America, 25 of 44 of squirrel species found in
20332-421: The 712 g (1.570 lb) western marsh harrier ( Circus aeruginosus ), the 316 g (11.1 oz) Montagu's harrier ( Circus pygargus ), the 390 g (14 oz) pallid harrier ( Circus macrourus ), the 835 g (1.841 lb) booted eagle ( Hieraaetus pennatus ) and buzzards up to size of the 776 g (1.711 lb) common buzzard can be taken. Even raptors somewhat larger than
20553-682: The 78 g (2.8 oz) American robin ( Turdus migratorius ) are fairly regular prey nonetheless and were the most numerous prey in the Sierra Nevadas of California (30.7% by number and 21.4% by weight). Thrush taken have ranged in size from the 26.4 g (0.93 oz) western bluebird ( Sialia mexicana ), the smallest bluebird and lightest North American thrush on average, to some larger thrush. Beyond corvids and thrushes, most passerines encountered by American goshawks are substantially smaller and are often ignored under most circumstances in favor of more sizable prey. Nonetheless, more than
20774-507: The American boreal forest regions where these became primary staple foods. Like those cohabitant predators, the goshawk suffers declines during the low portion of the lagomorph's breeding cycles, which rise and fall cyclically every 10 years. However, even where these are primary food sources, the American goshawk is less specialized than many other raptors and can alternate their food selection, often taking equal or greater numbers of tree squirrels and woodland birds. Due to this dietary variation,
20995-454: The American goshawk seems to belong to a superspecies with other larger goshawks from different portions of the world. Eurasian goshawk , found in Eurasia , was previously considered conspecific with American goshawk, formed the species complex "northern goshawk". Meyer's goshawk , found in the South Pacific , has been posited as the most likely to be the closest related living cousin to
21216-462: The Cooper's hawk usually avoids and loses individual contests against the larger goshawk, its adaptability has allowed it to become the most widespread and commonly found North American Accipiter . American goshawks are slightly smaller on average than their European counterparts and can be up to 10% smaller in mass than red-tailed hawks. However, studies have indicated that the goshawk has, beyond its superior speed and agility, has stronger feet and
21437-532: The Department of Interior, United States Fish & Wildlife Service (1991 & 1997) to list the goshawk as "threatened" or "endangered" under the authority of the Endangered Species Act . Both petitions argued for listing primarily on the basis of historic and ongoing nesting habitat loss, specifically the loss of old-growth and mature forest stands throughout the goshawk's known range. In both instances,
21658-401: The Eurasian goshawk is less affected than other raptorial birds by prey population cycles and tends to not be depleted by resource competition. On occasion, goshawks are robbed of their prey by a diversity of other birds, including harriers , other hawks , eagles , falcons and even gulls . Eurasian goshawks have been shown, in some but not all areas, to outcompete and possibly lower
21879-453: The Eurasian goshawk is the second most prolific predator of owls behind the Eurasian eagle owl ( Bubo bubo ). In Bavaria , Germany , the 287 g (10.1 oz) long-eared owl ( Asio otus ) was the second most common prey species for nesting goshawks. In the Białowieża Forest of Poland , fairly high numbers of the 475 g (1.047 lb) tawny owl ( Strix alucco ) were taken. In all, some 18 species of owl have been recorded in
22100-549: The Eurasian goshawk, the somewhat puzzling gap in their respective ranges explained by other Palearctic raptors such as Bonelli's eagles ( Aquila fasciata ) and short-toed eagles ( Circaetus gallicus ) that have extant isolated tropical island populations and were probably part of the same southwest Pacific radiation that led to the Meyer's goshawk. A presumably older radiation of this group may have occurred in Africa, where it led to both
22321-486: The Eurasian sparrowhawk, Eurasian goshawks are known to live in some relatively densely wooded areas of large cities of Central Europe , such as Berlin and Hamburg ; it is a relatively new phenomenon that started in the 20th century. The Eurasian goshawk can be found at almost any altitude, but recently is typically found at high elevations due to a paucity of extensive forests remaining in lowlands across much of its range. Altitudinally, goshawks may live anywhere up to
22542-517: The French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède . The scientific name is Latin ; astur means "hawk" and gentilis is "noble" or "gentle" because in the Middle Ages only the nobility were permitted to fly goshawks for falconry . A molecular genetic study published in 2019 unexpectedly found that the Eurasian goshawk and the American goshawk were not sister species. Instead, the Eurasian goshawk
22763-516: The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service concluded that listing was not warranted, but state and federal natural resource agencies responded during the petition process with standardized and long-term goshawk inventory and monitoring efforts, especially throughout U.S. Forest Service lands in the Western U.S. The United States Forest Service (US Dept of Agriculture) has listed the goshawk as a "sensitive species", while it also benefits from various protections at
22984-589: The United States, Newfoundland in Canada, Ireland, North Africa (central Morocco, northern Algeria , Tunisia , Libya , Egypt ); the Arabian Peninsula ( Israel , Jordan , Saudi Arabia), southwest Asia (southern Iran , Pakistan ), western India ( Gujarat ) and on Izu-shoto (south of Japan) and the Commander Islands . Eurasian goshawks can be found in both deciduous and coniferous forests . While
23205-470: The adult American and Eurasian goshawk never has a rusty color to its underside barring. Wing beats of American goshawks are deeper, more deliberate, and on average slower than those of the two other North American Asturs . American goshawks are sometimes mistaken for species even outside of the genus Astur especially as juveniles of each respective species. In North America , four species of buteonine hawk (all four of which are smaller than goshawks to
23426-437: The aforementioned adult marmots. Mammals are more important in their diet than in Eurasian goshawk 's, more lagomorphs are taken. In Oregon , snowshoe hares ( Lepus americanus ) are the largest contributor of biomass to goshawks foods (making up to 36.6% of the prey by weight), in eastern Oregon at least 60% of hares taken were adults weighing on average 1,500 g (3.3 lb), and in one of three studies from Oregon be
23647-617: The agility of squirrels. The 296 g (10.4 oz) red squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris ) of Eurasia is the most numerous mammalian prey in European studies and the sixth most often recorded prey species there overall. In Oulu , Finland during winter (24.6% by number), in Białowieża Forest , Poland (14.3%), in the Chřiby uplands of the Czech Republic (8.5%) and in Forêt de Bercé , France (12%)
23868-453: The area. To many other raptorial birds, the northern goshawk is more significant as a predatory threat than as competition. American goshawk predate other accipiters such as the 136 g (4.8 oz) sharp-shinned hawk and the 440 g (0.97 lb) Cooper's hawk . Among Buteo hawks, the adults of 424 g (15.0 oz) broad-winged hawk ( Buteo platypterus ), 610 g (1.34 lb) red-shouldered hawk ( Buteo lineatus ) and
24089-464: The area. However, the mortality rates due to foresting practices are unknown and it is possible that some mature goshawks may simply be able to shift to other regions when a habitat becomes unsuitable but this is presumably unsustainable in the long-term. In harvest forests of California , where overstory trees are frequently removed, goshawks have been found to successfully remain as breeding species as long as some mature stands are left intact. Despite
24310-459: The average dimensions were 56.3 mm × 43 mm (2.22 in × 1.69 in) compared to German ones, which averaged 57.3 mm × 44 mm (2.26 in × 1.73 in). Goshawks from Lapland , Finland lay the largest known eggs at 62–65 mm (2.4–2.6 in) x 47–49.5 mm (1.85–1.95 in), while other Finnish goshawk eggs ranged from 59–64 mm (2.3–2.5 in) x 45–48 mm (1.8–1.9 in). Weight of
24531-407: The breeding season (based largely on studies from Sweden and England), however, on the contrary many goshawks do routinely hunt crows and similar species. In fact, there are some recorded cases where goshawks were able to exploit such mobbing behaviour in order to trick crows into close range, where the mob victim suddenly turned to grab one predaceously. In the following areas Corvus species were
24752-466: The breeding season diet than young birds, an estimated 30% of grouse taken by Scandinavian goshawks in summer were neonatal chicks whereas 53% were about fledgling age, the remaining 17% being adult grouse. This is fairly different from in southeastern Alaska , where grouse are similarly as important as in Fennoscandia, as 32.1% of avian prey deliveries were adults, 14.4% were fledglings and 53.5% were nestlings. Eurasian goshawks can show somewhat of
24973-496: The canopy than most forest songbirds, which may make them more susceptible to goshawk attacks than other small songbirds. Non-passerine upland birds taken by goshawks in small numbers include but are not limited to nightjars , swifts , bee-eaters , kingfishers , rollers , hoopoes and parrots . Outside of the squirrel family, relatively few other types of rodents are taken in many regions. Microtine rodents which are so essential to most northern non-accipitrine hawks and
25194-509: The canopy than most forest songbirds, which may make them more susceptible to goshawk attacks than other small songbirds. Non-passerine upland birds taken by goshawks in small numbers include but are not limited to nightjars , swifts , kingfishers , and parrots . Eurasian goshawks are often near the top of the avian food chain in forested biomes but face competition for food resources from various other predators. The mean prey mass for sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks in North America
25415-405: The center. Display flights not infrequently escalate into an undulating flight, similar to a wood pigeon but with sharper turns and descents, and are sometimes embellished with sky-dives that can cover over 200 m (660 ft). One study found undulating display flights more than three times more often done by males than females. After display flights have concluded, the male typically brings
25636-445: The cock capercaillie at more than twice as heavy as the hen is too large for a male goshawk to overtake. However, adult female goshawks have been reported attacking and killing cock capercaillie, mainly during winter. These average about 4,000 g (8.8 lb) in body mass and occasionally may weigh even more when dispatched. Similarly impressive feats of attacks on other particularly large gamebirds have been reported elsewhere in
25857-779: The concluding pursuit. Hunting goshawks seem to not only utilize thick vegetation to block them from view for their prey (as typical of Astur species) but, while hunting flying birds, they seem to be able to adjust their flight level so the prey is unable to see its hunter past their own tails. Once a prey item is selected, a short tail-chase may occur. The northern goshawk is capable of considerable, sustained, horizontal speed in pursuit of prey with speeds of 38 mph (61 km/h) reported. While pursuing prey, northern goshawks has been described both "reckless" and "fearless", able to pursue their prey through nearly any conditions. There are various times goshawks have been observed going on foot to pursue prey, at times running without hesitation (in
26078-531: The day than other raptors and are probably the most habitual avian predator of domestic fowl, at least in the temperate-zone. Particularly large numbers of chickens have been reported in Wigry National Park , Poland (4th most regular prey species and contributing 15.3% of prey weight), Belarus and the Ukraine , being the third most regularly reported prey in the latter two. In a study of British goshawks,
26299-507: The decline of habitat quality and the frequent disturbances, this region's goshawks breeding success rates somewhat improbably did not reduce. Based on habitat usage studied in New Jersey and New York , this adaptability is not seen everywhere, as here nests were further from human habitation than expected on the basis of available habitat, an observation suggesting that disturbance regionally can reduce habitat quality. Similarly, studies from
26520-440: The diet are ground squirrels. Particularly widely reported as a secondary food staple from Oregon , Wyoming , California and Arizona was the 187 g (6.6 oz) golden-mantled ground squirrel ( Callospermophilus lateralis ). In Nevada and Idaho ’s Sawtooth National Forest , the 285 g (10.1 oz) Belding's ground squirrel ( Urocitellus beldingi ) fully dominated the food spectrum, comprising up to 74.3% of
26741-688: The diet of Eurasian and American goshawks. The second most commonly reported prey species in breeding season dietary studies from Europe is the 160 g (5.6 oz) Eurasian jay ( Garrulus glandarius ). These species were recorded in studies from northeastern Poland and the Apennines of Italy (where the Eurasian jays made up a quarter of the food by number) as the main prey species by number. The conspicuously loud vocalizations, somewhat sluggish flight (when hunting adult or post-fledging individuals) and moderate size of these jays make them ideal for prey-gathering male goshawks. Another medium-sized corvid,
26962-565: The diet, ranging in size from the Eurasian ( Glaucidium passerinum ) and northern pygmy owls ( Glaucidium gnoma ) at 58.5 g (0.129 lb) and 61.8 g (2.18 oz), respectively, to all the large northern Strix owls including adults. Whether adults have ever been killed as prey though is unknown. In addition, about eight species of falcon have been identified in the foods of goshawks. Adult falcons of small species such as kestrels and merlins ( Falco columbarius ) can be overpowered quite easily if they can manage to surprise
27183-459: The ecosystems that they inhabit, northern goshawks compete with resources with other predators, particularly where they take sizeable numbers of lagomorphs. About a dozen mammalian and avian predators all primarily consume European rabbits and hares alongside goshawks in the Iberian peninsula where these became primary staple foods. Like those co-habitant predators, the goshawk suffers declines during
27404-586: The edge of a forest and meadow. Hunting habitat can be variable, as in a comparison of habitats used in England found that only 8% of landscapes used were woodlands whereas in Sweden 73-76% of the habitat used was woodland, albeit normally within 200 m (660 ft) of an opening. One study from central Sweden found that locally goshawks typically hunt within the largest patches of mature forests, selecting second growth forest less than half as often as its prevalence in
27625-578: The eggs average 63 g (2.2 oz) in Great Britain and 50 to 60 g (1.8 to 2.1 oz) in Poland and Germany, with extreme weights from the latter nations of 35 to 75 g (1.2 to 2.6 oz). Clutch size almost always averages between 2 and 4 eggs, with a median around 3, rarely as few as 1 or as many 5–6 will be laid. In combination spring weather and prey population levels seem to drive both egg laying dates and clutch size. If an entire clutch
27846-414: The explosive numbers of small birds that began to occupy the world's forest in the last few eras. The harriers are the only group of extant diurnal raptors that seem to bear remotely close relation to this genus, whereas buteonines , Old World kites , sea eagles and chanting-goshawks are much more distantly related and all other modern accipitrids are not directly related. Within the genus Astur ,
28067-426: The first three hours of daylight as in the rest of the day. Occasionally hunting northern goshawks may make shrill screams when pursuing prey, especially if a lengthy chase is undertaken and the prey is already aware of its intended predator. The juvenile plumage of the species may cause some confusion, especially with other Astur juveniles. Unlike other northern Astur species, the adult northern goshawk never has
28288-651: The flicker is the third most regularly reported prey species in America. In south-central Wyoming , the northern flicker was the second most numerous prey species and it was the main prey species in a study from New Mexico (here making up 26.4% of prey by number). All sizes of woodpeckers available are taken from the 25.6 g (0.90 oz) downy woodpecker ( Picoides pubescens ) to the 287 g (10.1 oz) pileated woodpecker ( Dryocopus pileatus ) in North America. In many areas, American goshawks will pursue water birds of several varieties, although they rarely form
28509-428: The genus Astur , the Eurasian goshawk seems to belong to a superspecies with other larger goshawks from different portions of the world. The American goshawk , found in North America , was previously considered conspecific with Eurasian goshawk, formed the species complex "northern goshawk". Meyer's goshawk , found in the South Pacific , has been posited as the most likely to be the closest related living cousin to
28730-495: The goshawk has been recorded preying on a dozen species, mainly mustelids. Carnivoran prey include weasels ( Mustela nivalis ), stoats ( Mustela erminea ), and larger predators such as European mink ( Mustela lutreola ), European polecat ( Mustela putorius ), feral American mink ( Neogale vison ), and martens ( Martes spp.). Domestic carnivores are taken on scarce occasion, including dogs ( Canis familiaris ) and cats ( Felis catus ), predominately young specimens but
28951-448: The goshawk, the prey chooses to run rather than fly. If frightened too soon, gamebirds may take flight and may be chased for some time, although the capture rates are reduced considerably when this occurs. Pre-fledgling chicks of gamebirds are particularly vulnerable due to the fact that they can only run when being pursued. In several parts of Scandinavia , forest grouse have historically been important prey for goshawks both in and out of
29172-714: The goshawk, the prey chooses to run rather than fly. If frightened too soon, gamebirds may take flight and may be chased for some time, although the capture rates are reduced considerably when this occurs. Pre-fledgling chicks of gamebirds are particularly vulnerable due to the fact that they can only run when being pursued. There are impressive feats of attacks on other particularly large gamebirds have been reported, in at least one case, successful predation on an estimated 3,900 g (8.6 lb) adult-sized young wild turkey ( Meleagris gallopavo ) hen by an immature female goshawk weighing approximately 1,050 g (2.31 lb)), although taking adults of much larger-bodied prey like this
29393-637: The goshawk, there seems to be multiple peaks in numbers of migrants, an observation that suggests partial segregation by age and sex. In North America , goshawks are generally rather more likely than those from Eurasia to hunt within the confines of mature forest, excluding areas where prey numbers are larger outside of the forest, such as where scrub-dwelling cottontails are profuse. Northern goshawks are usually opportunistic predators, as are most birds of prey . The most important prey species are small to medium-sized mammals and medium to large-sized birds found in forest, edge and scrub habitats. However,
29614-1264: The goshawks' kills. Unlike the predators at the top of the avian food chain such as eagles and the largest owls , which are rarely endangered by predation as adults, the northern goshawk is itself susceptible to a fairly extensive range of predators. The most deadly are likely to be the Eurasian eagle owl which not only predates goshawks of any age and at any season but also opportunistically take over their prior nests as their own nesting site. In Schleswig-Holstein , 59% of reintroduced eagle-owls used nests built by goshawks and no goshawk pairs could nest successfully within 500 m (1,600 ft) of an active eagle-owl nest. 18% of nest failures here positively were attributed to eagle-owl predation, with another 8% likely due to eagle-owls. Other larger raptorial birds can threaten them. Other avian predators known to have successfully preyed on goshawks including adults (usually in singular cases) include white-tailed eagle ( Haliaeetus albicilla ), Bonelli's eagle ( Aquila fasciata ), eastern imperial eagle ( Aquila heliaca ), snowy owl ( Bubo scandiacus ), and Ural owl ( Strix uralensis ). The same mammalian predators that sometimes compete for food with Eurasian goshawks also sometimes kill them, with
29835-419: The ground and are clumsier, more unsteady and less cautious than older birds. In one case, a goshawk that was ambushed and killed at a kill by a mangy vixen fox was able to lethally slash the windpipe of the fox, which apparently died moments after partially consuming the goshawk. Apart from aforementioned predation events, northern goshawks have at times been killed by non-predators, including prey that turned
30056-591: The ground as they attempt to strike each other with talons. Although at times considered rather sedentary for a northern raptor species, the northern goshawk is a partial migrant . Migratory movements generally occur between September and November (occasionally extending throughout December) in the fall and February to April in the spring. Spring migration is less extensive and more poorly known than fall migration, but seems to peak late March to early April. Some birds, up to as far north as northern Canada and central Scandinavia , may remain in their territory throughout
30277-850: The habit of nests being built in forests close to clear-fellings, swamps and heaths, lakes and meadows, roads (especially light-use logging dirt roads), railways and swathes cut along power cables, usually near such openings there'd be prominent boulders, stones or roots of fallen trees or low branches to use as plucking points. Canopy cover averaged between 60 and 96% in Europe. As is typical in widely distributed raptors from temperate-zones, those from cold regions nest facing south, 54% in Norway, otherwise usually nests face north and east. Nests, especially after initial construction, may average between 80 and 120 cm (31 and 47 in) in length and 50 to 70 cm (20 to 28 in) in width, and are around 20 to 25 cm (7.9 to 9.8 in) deep. After many uses,
30498-824: The head is held back to avoid flailing limbs, frequently followed by a kneading action until the prey stops struggling. Kills are normally consumed on the ground by juvenile or non-breeding goshawks (more rarely an elevated perch or old nest) or taken to a low perch by breeding goshawks. Habitual perches are used for dismantling prey especially in the breeding season, often called "plucking perches", which may be fallen logs, bent-over trees, stumps or rocks and can see years of usage. Northern goshawks often leave larger portions of their prey uneaten than other raptors, with limbs, many feathers and fur and other body parts strewn near kill sites and plucking perches, and are helpful to distinguish their kills from other raptors such as large owls, who usually eat everything. The daily food requirements of
30719-456: The higher overall speeds to taking out common wood-pigeons, as these typically forage in wood-cloaked but relatively open fields; however males are efficient predators of common wood-pigeons as well. Studies have proven that, while hunting feral pigeons, goshawks quite often select the oddly colored pigeons out of flocks as prey, whether the plumage of the flock is predominantly dark or light hued, they disproportionately often select individuals of
30940-419: The home ranges of goshawk pairs are from 600 to 4,000 ha (1,500 to 9,900 acres) and these vicinities tend to be vigorously defended both to maintain rights to their nests and mates as well as the ranges' prey base. During display flight goshawks may engage in single or mutual high-circling. Each sex tends to defend the territory from others of their own sex. Territorial flights may occur throughout most of
31161-399: The hunting range of nesting goshawks. Similarly, the mandarin duck ( Aix galericulata ) from Asia may be more vulnerable than most waterfowl at their tree nests. Although etymologists feel that the goshawk is an abbreviation of "goose-hawk", geese are seldom taken considering their generally much larger size. Nonetheless, four species have been taken, including adults of species as large as
31382-521: The incidental benefit of the species’ genetic diversity. In Cedar Grove , Wisconsin , there were more than twice as many juvenile males than females recorded migrating. At the hawk watch at Cape May Point State Park in New Jersey , few adult males and no adult females have been recorded in fall migration apart from irruptive years, indicating that migration is more important to juveniles. More juveniles were recorded migrating than adults in several years of study from Sweden. In northern Asturs including
31603-473: The incoming goshawk does not leave the vicinity, the defending goshawk may increase the exaggerated quality of its flight including a mildly undulating wave-formed rowing flight and the rowing flight with its neck held in a heron -like S to elevate the head and maximally expose the pale breast as a territorial threat display. Territorial skirmishes may on occasion escalate to physical fights in which mortalities may occur. In actual fights, goshawks fall grappling to
31824-618: The larger Eurasian subspecies. The Eurasian goshawk, like all Astur species, exhibits sexual dimorphism , where females are significantly larger than males, with the dimorphism notably greater in most parts of Eurasia. Linearly, males average about 8% smaller in the North American species, and 13% smaller than females in Eurasia, but in the latter landmass can range up to a very noticeable 28% difference in extreme cases. Male Eurasian goshawks are 46 to 63 cm (18 to 25 in) long and have
32045-562: The largest northern duck at 2,066 g (4.555 lb), have also been captured by goshawks. Various other water birds reported as taken include red-throated loon ( Gavia stellata ) chicks, adult great cormorants ( Phalacrocorax carbo ) (about the same size as a greater white-fronted goose), and five species each of heron and rail . Among shorebirds (or small waders), goshawks have been reported preying on more than 22 sandpipers , more than 8 plovers , more than 10 species each of gull and tern , more than 2 species of alcids and
32266-408: The largest widespread corvid (about the same size as a goshawk at 1,040 g (2.29 lb)) and a formidable opponent even one-on-one, they are even known to prey on ravens seldom. In Europe , the leading prey species numerically (the main prey species in 41% of 32 European studies largely focused on the nesting season) is the 352 g (12.4 oz) rock pigeon ( Columba livia ). Although
32487-406: The largest widespread corvid (about the same size as a goshawk at 1,040 g (2.29 lb)) and a formidable opponent even one-on-one, they are even known to prey on ravens seldom. Corvids taken have ranged in size from the 72 g (2.5 oz) Canada jay ( Perisoreus canadensis ) to the raven. Most of American goshawks take pigeons less commonly than Eurasian goshawks. One exception
32708-412: The latter species being perhaps the most commonly seen, widespread and adaptable of diurnal American raptors. American goshawks are less prone to nesting outside of mature forests and take larger numbers of mammals as opposed to abundant birds than in Europe. This may be in part due to heavier competition from a greater diversity of raptors in North America. In Europe , the goshawk only co-exists with
32929-563: The leading prey by number: the 440 g (16 oz) hooded crow ( Corvus cornix ) in the Ural mountains (9% by number), the 245 g (8.6 oz) western jackdaw ( Coloeus monedula ) in Sierra de Guadarrama , Spain (36.4% by number), the 453 g (0.999 lb) rook ( Corvus frugilegus ) in the Zhambyl district , Kazakhstan (36.6% by number). Despite evidence that northern goshawks avoid nesting near common ravens ( Corvus corax ),
33150-448: The local environment. The northern goshawk is typically considered a perch-hunter. Hunting efforts are punctuated by a series of quick flights low to the ground, interspersed with brief periods of scanning for unsuspecting prey from elevated perches (short duration sit-and-wait predatory movements). These flights are meant to be inconspicuous, averaging about 83 seconds in males and 94 seconds in females, and prey pursuits may be abandoned if
33371-516: The low portion in the lagomorph's breeding cycles, which rise and fall cyclically every 10 to 12 years. However, even where these are primary food sources, the northern goshawk is less specialized than many (even Eurasian eagle-owls , one of the most generalist avian predators, becomes an extremely specialised lagomorph hunter locally, to a greater extent than goshawks) and can alternate their food selection, often taking equal or greater numbers of squirrels and woodland birds. Due to this dietary variation,
33592-447: The male tends to moult later and faster than the female. Moulting results in the female being especially likely to have a gap in its wing feathers while incubating and this may cause some risk, especially if the male is lost, as it inhibits her hunting abilities and may hamper her defensive capabilities, putting both herself and the nestlings in potential danger of predation. The moult takes a total of 4–6 months, with tail feathers following
33813-737: The most numerous prey species (second most numerous in the other two). This species was also the second most numerous food species in Alberta throughout the year and the most important prey by weight. Eastern cottontails ( Sylvilagus floridanus ), also averaging some 1,500 g (3.3 lb) in mass per the study (and thus mostly consisting of adult cottontails in their prime), were the most significant prey both by weight (42.3%) and number (13.3%) in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest of Arizona . Eastern cottontails are also taken regularly in New York and Pennsylvania . In some parts of
34034-400: The most oft-measured is wing chord which can range from 286 to 354 mm (11.3 to 13.9 in) in males and from 324 to 390 mm (12.8 to 15.4 in) in females. Additional, the tail is 200–295 mm (7.9–11.6 in), the culmen is 20–26.3 mm (0.79–1.04 in) and the tarsus is 68–90 mm (2.7–3.5 in). Northern goshawks normally only call during courtship or
34255-661: The most significant contributor of biomass to goshawk nests. On average, the weight of rabbits taken in La Segarra was 662 g (1.459 lb) (making up 38.4% of the prey biomass there), indicating most of the 333 rabbits taken there were yearlings and about 2-3 times lighter than a prime adult wild rabbit. In England , where the European rabbit is an introduced species, it was the third most numerous prey species at nests. In more snowbound areas where wild and feral rabbits are absent, larger hares may be taken and while perhaps more difficult to subdue than most typical goshawk prey, are
34476-412: The much smaller sparrowhawk within its own genus, while in North America, it lives with the intermediately-sized Cooper's hawk . The latter species much more readily nests in semi-open and developed areas of North America than goshawks there and hunts a broad assemblage of medium-sized birds, whereas such prey is more readily available to male goshawks from Europe than to goshawks in North America. Although
34697-450: The nest and their mates. There are a few rare cases where males successfully reared up to 4 young after the female abandoned the nest or was killed between the second and third week. Otherwise, the male will continue delivering prey but without the female all the nestlings will starve to death and the food simply rots. In cases where the male abandons the female and the brood, she may be able to successfully brood but usually only one nestling
34918-401: The nest. Other noisy activity, such as camping, have also caused nests to fail. Wildlife researchers and biologists do not seem to negatively affect goshawk nests, as they know to keep forays to the nest brief and capture of adult goshawks for radio-tagging was found to not harm their success at raising broods. In North America, several non-governmental conservation organizations petitioned
35139-502: The nest. At other times, the female may take a more active role, or even the primary one, in new nest construction and this is subject to considerable individual variation. For the nesting tree, more than 20 species of conifer have been used including spruce , fir , larch , pine and hemlock . Broadleaf trees used including ash , alder , aspen , beech , birch , elm , hornbeam , lime , maple (including sycamore ), oak , poplar , wild cherry and willow . In some areas,
35360-426: The nesting season, principally the 1,080 g (2.38 lb) black grouse ( Tetrao tetrix ) and the 430 g (15 oz) hazel grouse ( Bonasa bonasia ) followed in numbers by larger 2,950 g (6.50 lb) western capercaillies ( Tetrao urogallus ) and the 570 g (1.26 lb) willow ptarmigan ( Lagopus lagopus ) which replace the other species in the lower tundra zone. The impression of goshawks on
35581-426: The nesting season. Adult goshawks may chatter a repeated note, varying in speed and volume based on the context. When calling from a perch, birds often turn their heads slowly from side to side, producing a ventriloquial effect. The male calls a fast, high-pitched kew-kew-kew when delivering food or else a very different croaking guck or chup . The latter sound has been considered by some authors similar to that of
35802-446: The nestlings, fledglings and brooding females, all with impaired flight due to their wing feather moults, seemingly the most vulnerable. In Europe, the pine marten ( Martes martes ) has been known to prey on young goshawks still in the nest but not adults. Other mammals capable of climbing trees have been observed or inferred to predate goshawks, either mostly or entirely young in the nests, including wolverines ( Gulo gulo ). Overall,
36023-545: The nestlings. Food deliveries by the male can be daily or as infrequent as every 3 to 5 days. In turn, the female must feed the young about twice a day in order for the chicks to avoid starvation. Caching of food has been recorded near the nest, but only before the young start feeding themselves. Food deliveries must average about 250 to 320 g (8.8 to 11.3 oz) per young goshawk per day for them to successfully fledge, or 700 to 950 g (1.54 to 2.09 lb) total daily and 60 to 100 kg (130 to 220 lb) throughout
36244-406: The nests may be lined with hard pieces of bark and also with green sprigs of conifers. Often the tallest tree in a given stand is selected as the nest tree and this is often the dominant tree species within the given region and forest. Most nests are constructed under the canopy or near the main fork of a tree and average height is between 9 and 25 m (30 and 82 ft). In the dwarf trees of
36465-442: The northern goshawk has relatively short wings and a long tail which make it ideally adapted to engaging in brief but agile and twisting hunting flights through dense vegetation of wooded environments. This species is a powerful hunter, taking birds and mammals in a variety of woodland habitats, often utilizing a combination of speed and obstructing cover to ambush their victims. Goshawks often forage in adjoining habitat types, such as
36686-561: The northern goshawk is less affected than other raptorial birds by prey population cycles and tends to not be depleted by resource competition. Despite their propensity to pursue relatively large prey and capability to pursue alternate prey, American goshawks can be locally outcompeted for resources by species that are more adaptable and flexible, especially in terms of habitat and prey. Most northern buteonine hawks largely take small rodents such as voles (which are usually ignored by goshawks) but can adapt to nearly any other type of prey when
36907-587: The northern goshawk's range where reptiles were taken in large numbers was Sierra de Guadarrama , Spain , where the 77 g (2.7 oz) ocellated lizard ( Timon lepidus ) was the second most numerous prey species. Amphibians are even rarer in the diet, only recorded more than singly in one study each from Spain and from England . Fish are similarly rare in the diet, recorded twice each in Bavaria and Belarus . A few pellets have included remains of insects , much of which may be ingested incidentally or via
37128-452: The northern goshawk, the somewhat puzzling gap in their respective ranges explained by other Palearctic raptors such as Bonelli's eagles ( Aquila fasciata ) and short-toed eagles ( Circaetus gallicus ) that have extant isolated tropical island populations and were probably part of the same southwest Pacific radiation that led to the Meyer's goshawk. A presumably older radiation of this group may have occurred in Africa, where it led to both
37349-430: The observed incubation. The incubation stage last for any time between 28 and 37 days (rarely up to 41 days in exceptionally big clutches), varying in different parts of the range. After hatching occurs, the male does not come directly to the nest but instead just delivers food (usually already plucked, beheaded or otherwise dismembered) to a branch near the nest which the female tears apart and shares between herself and
37570-456: The other color. This preference is apparently more pronounced in older, experienced goshawks and there is some evidence that the males who select oddly-colored pigeons have higher average productivity during breeding. The Eurasian goshawk is in some parts of its range considered a specialized predator of gamebirds , particularly grouse . All told 33 species of this order have turned up in Eurasian and American goshawks ' diet, including most of
37791-614: The particular significance of it as a dietary staple. In the Pacific Northwest , the 165 g (5.8 oz) Douglas squirrel ( Tamiasciurus douglasii ) replaces the red squirrel in both distribution and as the highest contributor to goshawk diets from northern California to British Columbia . The largest occurrence of Douglas squirrel known was from Lake Tahoe , where they constituted 23% of prey by number and 32.9% by weight. Larger tree squirrels are also taken opportunistically, in New York , New Jersey and Connecticut ,
38012-463: The particularly large varieties as well as atypical prey including reptiles and amphibians , fish and insects . However, a few prey families dominate the diet in most parts of the range, namely corvids , pigeons , grouse , pheasants , thrushes and woodpeckers (in roughly descending order of importance) among birds and squirrels (mainly tree squirrels but also ground squirrels ) and rabbits and hares among mammals. Birds are usually
38233-562: The populations of this prey is considerable, possibly the most impactful of any predator in northern Europe considering their proficiency as predators and similarity of habitat selection to forest grouse. An estimated 25-26% of adult hazel grouses in Finnish and Swedish populations in a few studies fall victim to goshawks, whereas about 14% of adult black grouse are lost to this predator. Lesser numbers were reportedly culled in one study from northern Finland . However, adult grouse are less important in
38454-532: The predominance of rock pigeons in urban environments that host goshawks such as the German cities of Hamburg (where they constituted 36% by number and nearly 45% by weight of the local diet) or Cologne is predictable, evidence shows that these development-clinging pigeons are sought out even within ample conserved woodland from Portugal to Georgia . In areas where goshawk restrict their hunting forays to field and forest, they often catch another numerous pigeon,
38675-497: The presumed superspecies, the genus Erythrotriorchis may be part of an Australasian radiation of basal goshawks based largely on their similar morphology to northern goshawks. The term goshawk comes from the Old English gōsheafoc , "goose-hawk". The northern goshawk appears to have diversified in northern, central Eurasia and spread both westwards to occupy Europe and, later on, eastwards to spread into North America across
38896-731: The prey by number and 84.2% by biomass. Even much bigger ground squirrels such as prairie dogs and marmots are attacked on occasion. Several hoary marmots ( Marmota caligala ) were brought to nests in southeast Alaska but averaged only 1,894 g (4.176 lb), so were young animals about half of the average adult (spring) weight (albeit still considerably heavier than the goshawks who took them). In some cases, adult marmots such as alpine marmots ( Marmota marmota ), yellow-bellied marmots ( Marmota flaviventris ) and woodchucks ( Marmota monax ) have been preyed upon when lighter and weaker in spring, collectively weighing on average about 3,500 g (7.7 lb) or about three times as much as
39117-428: The prey. Larger falcons have turned up in the diet as well, including the 720 g (1.59 lb) prairie falcon ( Falco mexicanus ) and the 966 g (2.130 lb) saker falcon ( Falco cherrug ), although possible only nestlings of these species. Brief aerial skirmishes between goshawks and peregrine falcons ( Falco peregrinus ) have been described but neither species is known to have killed one another in
39338-403: The primary prey in Europe, constituting 76.5% of the diet in 17 studies. Studies have shown that from several parts of the Eurasian continent from Spain to the Ural mountains mammals contributed only about 9% of the breeding season diet. However, mammals may be slightly underrepresented in Eurasian data because of the little-studied presence of mammals as a food source in winter, particularly in
39559-451: The productivity of the slightly smaller common buzzard ( Buteo buteo ) when their ranges overlap. Usually, however, the dietary habits and nesting preferences are sufficiently distinct and thus affect neither buzzard nor goshawk populations. Both can mutually be very common even when the other is present. To many other raptorial birds, the Eurasian goshawk is more significant as a predatory threat than as competition. The Eurasian goshawk
39780-557: The range of nest predators is more extensive in North America than in Eurasia, in the latter continent most recorded nest depredations are by eagle owls, with martens and corvids usually only preying on goshawk nestlings when low food supplies cause the goshawks to have lower nest attendance (and presumably effect these predators to the extent that they take the risk of coming to the goshawk nest). Fledgling goshawks are also vulnerable to canids such as grey wolves ( Canis lupus ) and red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ) as they may perch lower to
40001-603: The range, including the 2,770 g (6.11 lb) Altai snowcock ( Tetraogallus altaicus ) in Mongolia At the other end of the size scale, the smallest gamebird known to be hunted by northern goshawk was the 96 g (3.4 oz) common quail . Domestic fowl, particularly chickens ( Gallus gallus domesticus ) are taken occasionally, especially where wild prey populations are depleted. While other raptors are at times blamed for large numbers of attacks on fowl, goshawks are reportedly rather more likely to attack chickens during
40222-452: The range, larger leporids may be attacked, extending to the 2,410 g (5.31 lb) black-tailed ( Lepus californicus ) and the 3,200 g (7.1 lb) white-tailed jackrabbit ( Lepus townsendii ). American goshawks also take pikas , much smaller cousins of rabbits and hares, but they are at best supplementary prey for American goshawks. Some 21 species of woodpecker have been reported from northern goshawk food studies around
40443-486: The raptor itself and absolute weight, for goshawks is relatively larger than in most buzzards in Europe. Studies show even buteonine hawks slightly larger than goshawks on average take prey weighing less than 200 g (7.1 oz) whereas average goshawk prey is usually well over this weight. This is due largely to the much higher importance of microtine rodents to most buzzards, which, despite their occasional abundance, are ignored by goshawks in most regions. In many of
40664-596: The red squirrel was the main prey species for goshawks. Northern goshawks can be locally heavy predators of lagomorphs , of which they take at least 15 species as prey. Especially in the Iberian peninsula , the native European rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) is often delivered to nests and can be the most numerous prey. Even where taken secondarily in numbers in Spain to gamebirds such as in La Segarra , Spain , rabbits tend to be
40885-409: The remain of an adult cat was found in a goshawk nest. Eurasian goshawks have also been recorded as feeding on much bigger predators such as the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) and raccoon dog ( Nyctereutes procyonoides ), but it is not clear whether these were actual kills, as many may be encountered as already dead carrion. The red fox is a clear competitor for resources with northern goshawks. It
41106-640: The same common name ( vernacular name). If an internal link led you here, you may wish to edit the linking article so that it links directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Northern_goshawk&oldid=1177300946 " Categories : Set index articles on animal common names Birds by common name Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description matches Wikidata All set index articles Eurasian goshawk The Eurasian goshawk ( / ˈ ɡ ɒ s ˌ h ɔː k / ; Astur gentilis , formerly Accipiter gentilis )
41327-591: The same male in consecutive years, whereas up to 96% of males mate with the same female in consecutive years. Males intruding in Hamburg , Germany territories were in some cases not evicted and ended up mating with the female, with the male of the pair not stopping it. In migratory, northernmost populations, mate retention in consecutive years is low. Males are sometimes killed by females during courtship and encounters can be dangerous especially if he does not bring food to courtship and he often seems nervous withdrawing with
41548-443: The same size as a greater white-fronted goose), adult crested ibis ( Nipponia nippon ), black stork ( Ciconia nigra ) chicks and five species each of heron and rail . Among shorebirds (or small waders), goshawks have been reported preying on more than 22 sandpipers , more than 8 plovers , more than 10 species each of gull and tern , more than 2 species of alcids and the Eurasian stone-curlew ( Burhinus oedicnemus ),
41769-417: The season for an average sized clutch of around three. Females will also start capturing prey later on, but usually only after the young have already fledged. In Europe , female goshawks may press down on their nest if a human approaches, others may unobtrusively leave the nest, although are more reluctant to leave the nest late in incubation. Occasionally, both males and females have been recorded abandoning
41990-556: The short-term but in the long-term is likely to cause higher goshawk mortality. Showing the high variability of migratory movements, in one study of winter movements of adult female goshawks that bred in high-elevation forests of Utah , about 36% migrated 100 to 613 km (62 to 381 mi) to the general south, 22% migrated farther than that distance, 8.3% migrated less far, 2.7% went north instead of south and 31% stayed throughout winter on their breeding territory. Irruptive movements seem to occur for northern populations, i.e. those of
42211-494: The south (but not usually across the 5-km Kattegat straits ). On the other hand, 4.3% of the southern Swedish goshawks actually moved north. Migrating goshawks seem to avoid crossing water, but sparrowhawks seem to do so more regularly. In central Europe , few birds travel more than 30 km (19 mi) throughout the year, a few juveniles have exceptionally been recorded traveling up to 300 km (190 mi). In Eurasia, very small numbers of migratory northern goshawks cross
42432-534: The species either native to or introduced in North America and Europe. Numerically, only in the well-studied taiga habitats of Canada and Alaska and some areas of the eastern United States do grouse typically take a dominant position. Elsewhere in the range, gamebirds are often secondary in number but often remain one of the most important contributors of prey biomass to nests. With their general ground-dwelling habits, gamebirds tend to be fairly easy for goshawks to overtake if they remain unseen and, if made aware of
42653-480: The species either native to or introduced in North America and Europe. Numerically, only in the well-studied taiga habitats of Scandinavia do grouse typically take a dominant position. Elsewhere in the range, gamebirds are often secondary in number but often remain one of the most important contributors of prey biomass to nests. With their general ground-dwelling habits, gamebirds tend to be fairly easy for goshawks to overtake if they remain unseen and, if made aware of
42874-640: The species might show strong regional preferences for certain trees, they seem to have no strong overall preferences nor even a preference between deciduous or coniferous trees despite claims to the contrary. More important than the type of trees are the composition of a given tree stand, which should be tall, old-growth with intermediate to heavy canopy coverage (often more than 40%) and minimal density undergrowth, both of which are favorable for hunting conditions. Also, goshawks typically require proximity to openings in which to execute additional hunting. Access to waterways and riparian zones of any kind
43095-515: The species might show strong regional preferences for certain trees, they seem to have no strong overall preferences nor even a preference between deciduous or coniferous trees despite claims to the contrary. Compared to American goshawk , the Eurasian goshawk may live in fairly urbanized patchworks of small woods, shelter-belts and copses and even use largely isolated trees in central parts of Eurasian cities , especially in central Europe . Even if they are far more wary of human presence than
43316-444: The staple local rodent prey populations go down. Comparisons with goshawks and red-tailed hawk nesting in abutting areas of Arizona (other large common Buteos like Swainson's hawks ( Buteo swainsonii ) and ferruginous hawks ( Buteo regalis ) utilize open habitats and so do not come into conflict with goshawks) shows the red-tailed hawks as being able to take a broader range of prey than goshawks and nest in more varied habitats,
43537-455: The stomachs of birds that they have consumed. However, there is some evidence they at times will hunt large ground-dwelling insects such as dung beetles . Eurasian goshawks are often near the top of the avian food chain in forested biomes but face competition for food resources from various other predators, including both birds and mammals. Comparative dietary studies have shown that the mean sizes of prey, both in terms of its size relative to
43758-451: The study. Competition for Eurasian goshawks can also come from mammalian carnivores . Martens , and to a lesser extent other weasels , are presumably one of their more major competitors as their diet often consists of similar prey primarily during spring and summer, tree squirrels and woodland birds, but little has been studied in terms of how the two types of predator affect each other. Most recorded interactions have been predatory, as
43979-429: The tables on their pursuer, as well as in hunting accidents. In one case, a huge group (or murder) of hooded crows heavily mobbed a goshawk that they caught in a relatively open spot, resulting in a prolonged attack that ended up killing the goshawk. In another instance, a goshawk drowned while attempting to capture a tufted duck ( Aythya fuligula ). One young goshawk managed to escape a red fox that had caught it with
44200-547: The three North American species, despite having the broadest current distribution of any Astur in the Americas (extending down through much of South America ). Migratory goshawks in North America may move down to Baja California , Sinaloa and into most of west Texas , but generally in non-irruptive years, goshawks winter no further south than Nebraska , Iowa , Illinois , Indiana , eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina . Some periodic eruptions to nearly as far as
44421-421: The tundra, nests have been found at only 1 to 2 m (3.3 to 6.6 ft) off the ground, and, in the tundra and elsewhere, very rarely on felled trees, stumps or on the ground. More significant than species is the maturity and height of the nesting tree, its structure (which should have ample surface around the main fork) and, perhaps most significantly, little to no understory below it. Multiple studies note
44642-492: The victims become aware of the goshawk too quickly. More sporadically, northern goshawks may watch for prey from a high soar or gliding flight above the canopy. One study in Germany found an exceptional 80% of hunting efforts to be done from a high soar but the author admitted that he was probably biased by the conspicuousness of this method. In comparison, a study from Great Britain found that 95% of hunting efforts were from perches. A strong bias for pigeons as prey and
44863-427: The warmer drier extensions of their range, reptiles may be available to them to hunt. Only one species of snake is recorded from their diet, the small innocuous grass snake ( Natrix natrix ), at 66 g (2.3 oz); however about a half dozen lizards are recorded in their diet, primarily from the Iberian peninsula but also from the Ural mountains and the American southwest . The only known location in
45084-452: The western and southern portions of Europe where the lack of snowfall can allow large numbers of rabbits . Staple prey for northern goshawks usually weighs between 50 and 2,000 g (1.8 and 70.5 oz), with average prey weights per individual studies typically between 215 and 770 g (7.6 and 27.2 oz). In the Netherlands , male prey averaged 277 g (9.8 oz) whereas female prey averaged 505 g (17.8 oz), thus
45305-812: The western limits of Siberia as far as Anadyr and Kamchatka . In the Eastern Hemisphere , they are found in their southern limits in extreme northwestern Morocco , Corsica and Sardinia , the "toe" of Italy, southern Greece, Turkey , the Caucasus , Sinkiang 's Tien Shan , in some parts of Tibet and the Himalayas ( India and Nepal ), western China and Japan. In winter, Eurasian goshawks may be found rarely as far south as Taif in Saudi Arabia and perhaps Tonkin , Vietnam . Vagrants have been reported in Alaska in
45526-516: The wild. In Schleswig-Holstein , Germany , at least four small passerines species were recorded as nesting close to active goshawk nest, due to the incidental shelter that the fierce goshawks inadvertently provides from smaller raptors which are their main predators. Such raptors, including Eurasian kestrels , Eurasian sparrowhawks and long-eared owls , not only avoid goshawk activity where possible but also were found to have lower nest productivity any time they nested relatively close to goshawks per
45747-434: The wings then lastly the contour and body feathers , which may not be completely moulted even as late as October. Although existing wing size and body mass measurements indicate that the Henst's goshawk ( Astur henstii ) and Meyer's goshawk ( Astur meyerianus ) broadly overlap in size with this species, the Eurasian goshawk is on average the largest member of the genus Astur , especially outsizing its tropic cousins in
45968-664: The winter of 1972-1973 invasion year contained less organochlorine and PCB residues than did other raptors, however, these birds were probably from nonagricultural, northern forests. Seemingly the remaining persistent conservation threat to goshawks, given their seeming overall resilience (at the species level) to both persecution and pesticides, is deforestation. Timber harvests are known to destroy many nests and adversely regional populations. Harvest methods that create extensive areas of reduced forest canopy cover, dropping to cover less than 35-40%, may be especially detrimental as cases of this usually cause all goshawks to disappear from
46189-519: The winter. Northern goshawks from northern Fennoscandia have been recorded traveling up to 1,640 km (1,020 mi) away from first banding but adults are seldom recorded more than 300 km (190 mi) from their summer range. In Sweden, young birds distributed an average of 377 km (234 mi) in the north to an average of 70 km (43 mi) in the south. In northern Sweden, young generally disperse somewhat south, whereas in south and central Sweden, they are typically distributed to
46410-884: The winter. In North America, migratory goshawks are often seen migrating south along mountain ridge tops at nearly any time of the fall depending on latitude. In North America , they are most broadly found in the Western United States , including Alaska , and western Canada . Their breeding range in the western contiguous United States largely consists of the wooded foothills of the Rocky Mountains and many other large mountain ranges from Washington to southern California extending east to central Colorado and westernmost Texas . Somewhat discontinuous breeding populations are found in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico , thence also somewhat spottily into western Mexico down through Sonora and Chihuahua along
46631-445: The world. With their relatively slow, undulating flight adult and fledged woodpeckers can easily be overtaken by hunting goshawks, not to mention their habitat preferences frequently put them within active goshawk ranges. Most of the widespread species from Europe and North America have been observed as prey, most commonly relatively large woodpeckers such as the 76 g (2.7 oz) greater spotted woodpecker ( Dendrocopos major ) and
46852-446: The world. With their relatively slow, undulating flight adult and fledged woodpeckers can easily be overtaken by hunting goshawks, not to mention their habitat preferences frequently put them within active goshawk ranges. Most of the widespread species from North America have been observed as prey, most commonly relatively large woodpeckers such as the 134 g (4.7 oz) northern flicker ( Colaptes auratus ) in North America. Indeed,
47073-414: The year, but peak from January to April. Such flights may include slow-flapping with exaggerated high deep beats interspersed with long glides and undulations. In general, territorial fights are resolved without physical contact, often with one (usually a younger bird seeking a territory) retreating while the other approaches in a harrier -like warning flight, flashing its white underside at the intruder. If
47294-456: The year. The Eurasian goshawk has relatively short, broad wings and a long tail, typical for Astur species and common to raptors that require maneuverability within forest habitats. For an Astur , it has a relatively sizeable bill, relatively long wings, a relatively short tail, robust and fairly short legs and particularly thick toes. Across most of the species' range, it is blue-grey above or brownish-grey with dark barring or streaking over
47515-433: Was 60% and corvids was 63.8%. Northern goshawks are usually opportunistic predators, as are most birds of prey . The most important prey species are small to medium-sized mammals and medium to large-sized birds found in forest, edge and scrub habitats. Primary prey selection varies considerably not just at the regional but also the individual level as the primary food species can be dramatically different in nests just
47736-517: Was found in Norway that goshawk numbers were higher when voles were at peak numbers, not due to voles as a food source but because foxes were more likely to eat the rodents and ignore grouse, whereas during low vole numbers the foxes are more likely to compete with goshawks over grouse as prey. A decrease of the fox population of Norway due to sarcoptic mange was found result in an increase of grouse numbers and, in turn, northern goshawks. In some areas, red foxes have been found to steal up to half of
47957-676: Was most closely related to Meyer's goshawk ( Astur meyerianus ) of southeast Asia. The genus Astur is a genus of diurnal raptors. This group of agile, smallish, forest-dwelling hawks has been in existence for possibly tens of millions of years, probably as an adaptation to the explosive numbers of small birds that began to occupy the world's forest in the last few eras. The harriers are the only group of extant diurnal raptors that seem to bear remotely close relation to this genus, whereas buteonines , Old World kites , sea eagles and chanting-goshawks are much more distantly related and all other modern accipitrids are not directly related. Within
48178-467: Was reported as the leading prey species in southern Alaska (28.4% by number). In the boreal forests of Alberta , grouse are fairly important prey especially in winter. In North America , tree squirrels are even more significant as prey, particularly the modestly-sized pine squirrels which are the single most important prey type for American goshawks overall. Particularly the 240 g (8.5 oz) American red squirrel ( Tamiasciurus hudsonicus )
48399-619: Was similar, populations are overall much denser in Europe than in North America. Per the IUCN , the global population of American and Eurasian goshawk is estimated to consist of 1 million to nearly 2.5 million birds, making this one of the most numerous species complex in its diverse family (the red-tailed hawk and black kite both may have a similar global population size, whereas the Eurasian sparrowhawk and common buzzard are possibly slightly more numerous than goshawks despite their smaller ranges). Based on studies from Gotland , Finland and
48620-496: Was successfully taken by a goshawk. Ungulates such as deer and sheep are sometimes consumed by goshawks but there is no evidence that they prey on live ones (as much larger accipitrids such as eagles can sometimes do), but these are more likely rare cases of scavenging on carrion, which may more regularly occur than once thought in areas with harsh winter weather. In a few cases, northern goshawks have been recorded hunting and killing prey beyond birds and mammals. In some of
48841-505: Was used continuously by different pairs for a period of 17 years. A single pair may maintain up to several nests, usually up to two will occur in an area of no more than a few hundred meters. One nest may be used in sequential years, but often an alternate is selected. During an 18-year-study from Germany, many alternate nests were used, 27 pairs had two, 10 had 3, 5 had 4, one had five and one pair had as many as 11. In Poland , pairs had on average two nests. The extent of use of alternate nests
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