Have You Seen a Goshawk?
Have You Seen a Goshawk?
Where to Look...
Found in remote, higher-elevation forests across northern PA and in mountainous areas southward.
Primarily in mature mixed and conifer forests with open understory.
Devoted parents and will dive at or physically attack any perceived threat around their nest, including humans.
Highly secretive except at nest.
How to Identify a Goshawk...
Large (bigger than a crow).
Heavy-bodied.
Overall slate gray above and pale gray below.
Distinct whitish eyebrow set off by dark cheek and cap.
Long, broad, barred tail.
Broad wings, often appearing pointed at tips
Fluffy feathers under tail often noticeable.
Rarely soar, usually seen below tree canopy.
Flight is fast and agile, making identification difficult.
Typically call excitedly near nest area: “kak kak kak…”
How to Identify a Goshawk Nest...
Usually in fork of tall tree (typically in cherry, maple, birch, pine, or hemlock).
Usually high in canopy.
Made of large sticks (many bigger than ½” diameter).
Average 2.5 to 3 ft diameter.
Goshawks Can Be Confused With These Other Species
Cooper's Hawk
Smaller (crow sized or smaller) and slimmer.
Shorter wings, long but slender rounded tail.
Adults barred orange to rust color below.
Voice sounds very nasal.
Woodlots, suburbs, less common in deep forest.
Rarely soar.
Sharp-Shinned Hawk
Much smaller (jay to pigeon sized).
Short wings, long square-ended tail.
Adults barred orange to rust color below.
Voice high-pitched.
Nests in deep forest, especially in younger conifers.
Red-Tailed Hawk
Big, chunky, short-tailed and broad-winged.
Brown above, whitish below with varying amount of belly streaking, distinctive rusty tail on adults.
Soar frequently, often high.
Inhabit forest edge, mixed farmland/woodlots.
Most frequently seen large hawk in PA.
Red Shouldered Hawk
Bigger than crow; smaller, lankier than red-tail.
Adults with distinctive black & white wings, tail.
Highly vocal from March through June.
Breeds in moist forests, swamps, bottomlands.
Often dive at intruders near nest.
Broad Winged Hawk
Crow-sized, chunky and big-headed.
Adults mostly brown with black & white tail.
Breeds in continuous deciduous or mixed forests.
Widespread but secretive during breeding season.