“American Goshawk, Baron of the Backwoods”

This hawk doesn’t really want to be found. The American Goshawk is the bigger, fiercer, wilder relative of the Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks that prowl suburbs and backyards. It’s an accipiter—a type of hawk with short, broad wings and a long rudderlike tail that gives it superb aerial agility. These secretive birds are mostly gray as adults, with bold white “eyebrow” stripes over piercing orange to red eyes. American Goshawks flash through forests chasing bird and mammal prey, pouncing silently or crashing feet first through brush to grab quarry in crushingly strong talons.

American Goshawks are secretive birds that typically live in large tracts of forest, so they are hard to find. They are vocal near their nests, but they are also fiercely defensive and have been known to attack people who come too close to a nest—please think twice before you approach a calling bird.

Hawks are deeply symbolic in folklore across many cultures, often representing strength, freedom, clear vision, and spiritual guidance. They are frequently seen as messengers, connecting the earthly and spiritual realms. In some traditions, hawks are associated with the sun and solar deities, while in others, they are seen as protectors or even guardians.

Fast facts:

• The name goshawk comes from the Old English word for “goose hawk,” a reference to this raptor’s habit of preying on birds. Falconers have trained goshawks for over 2,000 years; the birds were once known as “cook’s hawk” for their success in snaring meat for the pot.

 

• American Goshawk pairs build and maintain up to eight alternate nests within their nesting area. Even with options available, they may use the same nest year after year, or may switch to a new nest after a brood fails. Pairs may add fresh conifer needles to the nest during breeding. Aromatic chemicals (terpenes) in the needles may act as a natural insecticide and fungicide.

 

• Females are up to 25% heavier than males. The size difference means that between them, pair members can feed on a broader range of prey. When nesting, the larger female warms the eggs while the male is responsible for bringing food.

 

• Hunts by perching quietly at mid-levels in trees, watching for prey, often moving from one perch to another. When prey is spotted, hawk attacks with a short flight, putting on a great burst of speed and often plunging through tangled branches and thickets in pursuit of quarry. American Goshawks eat a wider range of prey than other accipiters, including birds, mammals, and reptiles, as well as insects and occasionally carrion.

 

• Breeding pairs perform a sky dance as part of their courtship, with the male diving at the female high above the forest canopy or chasing her through the trees. Pairs often then fly together in an undulating glide above the trees—one of the few times they are relatively easy to spot.

Sources: Cornell All About Birds and Audubon Society

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