Class Aves
Order Kites
Family Eagles and Kites
Genus Accipiter

Credit: Yasa

North American field guide

Northern Goshawk

Accipiter gentilis

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

51-66 cm (20-26") Uncommon and widespread. Boreal forests, eastern deciduous forests.

Largest accipiter, crow-sized. Dark blue-gray above; white eyebrow stripe (broader behind eye) separates dark cap from dark cheek patch; white with dense gray barring below which appears gray at a distance; white undertail coverts.

In flight; longish tail and rounded wings; less "flap and glide" than Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks.

Song: loud "kak-kak-kak-kak".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: nebirdsplus

Northern Goshawk perched - December 2012

Credit: Daniel Arndt

Immature - South Riverdale, Toronto, ON, CA - January 11, 2009

Credit: Matt MacGillivray

In flight - Englishman River Estuary, Parksville, Vancouver Island, BC 3 December 2010

Credit: Guy Monty

Watch and learn

Videos

4 videos

Northern goshawk is eating a female Pin-tail Duck

Credit: Tanujiisan

Feelings in a frozen Swamp

Credit: Jan van der Greef

Northern Goshawk meal / Repas d'autour des palombes

Credit: Christophe Doucet

Raptor Profile vol.1　オオタカ Northern Goshawk in Hokkaido

Credit: EFP8823

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

Loading the rebuilt map…

Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 4 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Northern Goshawk

2 rules

Rule 1 10 criteria confidence 3

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like

result:412-northern-goshawk:1:1 Source: 412 Northern Goshawk, row 1

Rule 2 10 criteria confidence 3

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like

result:412-northern-goshawk:2:1 Source: 412 Northern Goshawk, row 2

Northern Goshawk (Immature)

2 rules

Rule 1 11 criteria confidence 3

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like

result:413-northern-goshawk-immature:1:1 Source: 413 Northern Goshawk (Immature), row 1

Rule 2 11 criteria confidence 3

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like

result:413-northern-goshawk-immature:2:1 Source: 413 Northern Goshawk (Immature), row 2