American Goshawk

astur atricapillus

The American Goshawk is a powerful bird of prey known for its speed and agility. With its striking gray feathers and piercing yellow eyes, it's a master at hunting in forests!

Habitat: They live in forests and wooded areas across North America.

Appearance

The American Goshawk has a slate-gray back, a finely barred white underside, and a distinctive dark head with a bold white brow. Its piercing red or orange eyes and short, broad wings, combined with a long tail, make it visually adapted for weaving through dense forest canopies.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderFalconiformesFamilyFalconidaeGenusFalco

Photo: Gillfoto from Juneau, Alaska, United StatesCC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

American Goshawk

Interesting facts

Female goshawks are often much larger and more powerful than the males!

Goshawks build giant stick nests high in trees, often adding to them each year.

Goshawks can turn their head almost 270 degrees to spot prey, staying perfectly still.

Their piercing red eyes may help them see prey clearly, even in dim light!

Special abilities

American Goshawk's short wings and long tail allow it to weave through dense forests at high speed, surprising prey.

American Goshawk can appear suddenly from dense cover because of its silent flight, ambushing unsuspecting prey.

American Goshawk has super sharp vision that helps it spot tiny prey movements from far away in the forest.

American Goshawk has incredibly strong, sharp talons that help it capture and hold onto swift, struggling prey.

Measurements & details

Length: 46-64 cm
Wingspan: 98-124 cm
Weight: 0.7-1.5 kg
Lifespan: 11-15 years
Speed: 70 km/h
Clutch Size: 2-4
Incubation: 28-32 days
Migration Distance: 2000 km

Diet & Feeding

This fierce hunter primarily eats other birds and small mammals, catching them with incredible speed!

Primary Foods

Jays
Grouse
Snowshoe Hare
Squirrels
Woodpeckers
Rabbits

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

Hunts

Snowshoe Hare

Lepus americanus

A primary mammal prey species in its forest habitat.

Hunts

Dusky Grouse

Dendragapus obscurus

A common bird prey, especially in coniferous forests.

Eaten by

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Will sometimes prey on young goshawks in the nest.

Hunts

Black-billed Magpie

Pica pica

Often preys on these noisy birds where their ranges overlap.

Traits

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Arboreal

Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators.

Forest

Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

Carnivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.

Diurnal

Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

Also known as

Accipiter GoshawkForest Hawk

Collections

Birds

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

No special safety notes yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify American Goshawk?

Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How long is American Goshawk?

46-64 cm

What is American Goshawk's wingspan?

98-124 cm

How much does American Goshawk weigh?

0.7-1.5 kg

How long does American Goshawk live?

11-15 years

How fast can American Goshawk move?

70 km/h

What does American Goshawk eat?

This fierce hunter primarily eats other birds and small mammals, catching them with incredible speed!