NORTHERN GOSHAWK
Pat Kennedy
Latin name:Â Accipiter gentilis
The primary threat to goshawk populations is alteration of its preferred habitat from timber management practices. Biologists and land managers have raised concerns over the destruction and modification of goshawk nesting, post-fledging, foraging, and wintering habitat. Although the goshawk uses a wide range of forest communities during the breeding season, it prefers mature and old-growth forest for nesting and hunting. Its winter habitat preferences in North America are poorly understood, but the limited data from North America and Europe suggest the bird can use the same habitats year-round as well as non-forested habitats at lower elevations. Although there is some evidence goshawks are resilient to forest fragmentation and can re-establish when cleared areas are reforested, the thresholds for population persistence have not been identified.
Publications:Â
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5182005.pdf