Family Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae)
Least Concern
Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
Taxonomy
French: Autour des palombes German: Habicht Spanish: Azor común
Taxonomy:
Falco gentilis
Linnaeus
, 1758,(Swedish) Alps
.Traditionally thought to form species-group with A. henstii, A. melanoleucus and possibly A. meyerianus. Internal taxonomy somewhat confused. American races may merit treatment as distinct species#R; recent phylogenetic study suggested that atricapillus is as distinct from nominate gentilis as A. melanoleucus is from latter#R. Separate races have been awarded to birds from W & C Europe (gallinarum) and from Spain and N Africa (kleinschmidti), but these of doubtful validity, as at least some of variation clinal; several other dubious races described. Ten subspecies currently recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution
A. g. gentilis
(Linnaeus, 1758) – Eurasian Goshawk – Europe (except NE & SE) and N Morocco.
A. g. buteoides
(Menzbier, 1882) – extreme N Eurasia from N Sweden E to R Lena; winters S to C Europe and C Asia.
A. g. albidus
(Menzbier, 1882) – NE Siberia to Kamchatka.
A. g. schvedowi
(Menzbier, 1882) – S Urals E to NE China, Amurland, Sakhalin and Kuril Is, S to Himalayas and C China; winters S to SE & E Asia.
A. g. fujiyamae
(Swann & E. J. O. Hartert, 1923) – Japan.
A. g. arrigonii
(O. Kleinschmidt, 1903) – Corsica and Sardinia.
A. g. marginatus
Piller & Mitterpacher, 1783 – Italy and Balkans E to Caucasus and N Iran.
A. g. atricapillus
(A. Wilson, 1812) – American Goshawk – North America from Alaska E across C Canada to N Quebec, Labrador and Newfoundland, S to SW USA (N Arizona and N New Mexico) and, in E USA, to Wisconsin, W Virginia and Maryland.
A. g. laingi
(Taverner, 1940) – Queen Charlotte Is and Vancouver I (British Columbia), in W Canada.
A. g. apache
van Rossem, 1938 – SW USA (Arizona, SW New Mexico) and W Mexico (to Jalisco and Guerrero).
Descriptive notes
46–63 cm; male 517–1110 g, 677–1010 g (gentilis, atricapillus), female 820–2200 g, 758–1210 g (gentilis, ... read more
Voice
Near nest, adults give series of loud chattering notes: "kek-kek-kek-kek-kek....". Begging... read more
Habitat
Mature woods, particularly coniferous, but also deciduous or mixed coniferous-deciduous; mostly... read more
Food and feeding
Small and medium-sized birds and mammals, up to size of grouse, even capercaillies and hares; other vertebrates normally of minor... read more
Breeding
Laying from early Apr–early Jun. Solitary; neighbouring pairs normally several kilometres apart, rarely less than 1 km. Nests in... read more
Movements
Mainly sedentary; partially migratory in northernmost populations of North America, Fennoscandia... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). CITES II. Significant decline in Europe during 19th century and part of 20th, mainly due to persecution and deforestation; subsequent... read more
Northern Goshawks in or near towns in England
I have recorded these impressive birds on the edge of major towns in Hampshire. In Farnborough the birds are often in forest islands ( eg wooded town parks ) right in the town. I have found nests in the pine woods that surround the town as well. Interestingly, the Honey Buzzard is also found in close proximity and I have seen both species jousting over the forest. where common buzzard and sparrowhawk are also found.