Northern Goshawk

Taxonomic information

Common Name: Northern Goshawk

Latin Name: Accipiter gentiles

Family: Accipitridae

Description

The goshawk is a large buzzard-sized raptor that is capable of fast powerful flight which, particularly in dense woodland, makes this species a formidable predator. Although superficially similar in size, a male goshawk is approximately three times heavier than a female sparrowhawk which gives an indication of just how big and powerful these birds are. The goshawk will utilise a wide range of woodland habitats but are primarily associated with conifer plantations in the uplands. They will take a variety of prey species in woodlands and on open ground but they favour pigeons and corvids.

Like many other raptors, the goshawk population suffered heavy persecution during the 1800s that was so intense that by the late 1880s the population was completely eradicated. It is widely considered that re-colonisation occurred during the 1950s, when birds that had escaped from falconry collections or were deliberately released, began to breed in the wild. Goshawks returned to breed in Yorkshire in the 1960s and have slowly spread into the Dales. Goshawks can be quite secretive and are best looked for in the spring when the adults will soar and display high over woodland with potentially suitable nesting sites. Whilst very little is known about breeding success in the Dales, displaying goshawks are regularly seen over at least three woodlands in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and have been reported from a small number of other potentially suitable nesting areas. However, there are very few records of juveniles suggesting that breeding success is low.