American Goshawk
(Astur atricapillus laingi)
Previously known as Northern Goshawk, laingi
Introduction
Northern Goshawks range all around the earth’s northern hemisphere.
While gathering information on the Northern Goshawk subspecies (laingi), which resides on the Sunshine Coast, we learned that, in 2023, the American Ornithological Society split the Northern Goshawk into two species called American Goshawk and Eurasian Goshawk because, it was agreed, that the Northern Goshawks in North America were distinctly different in than those in Europe. Today, Northern Goshawk residing in North American are called American Goshawk.
Despite the official name change, not much has been done to update authoritative websites in North America and most of the published research work on the Northern Goshawk is in need of amendment.
As we have seen before, the unique geography and climate of our British Columbia coastal regions have influenced evolutionary outcomes. On this webpage we focus, on the Sunshine Coast, and the American Goshawk subspecies designated (laingi). The (laingi) subspecies is unique to our north-west coastal regions and can only be found from southeastern Alaska and down along the west coast of British Columbia, and south to the Olympic Peninsula of Washington.
To further complicate matters, the laingi subspecies is often referred to in literature as the “Coastal” or “Queen Charlotte” or “Haida Gwaii” Goshawk. We have chosen to refer to it as our “Coastal Goshawks”.
British Columbia’s west coast old growth forests have, up until recent years, provided ideal habitat for our coastal goshawks but, as much of the old growth is logged, this habitat is quickly disappearing. What will happen next is up to us.
Range
World-wide: The previously named Northern Goshawk, can be found in much of Europe, Asia and North America. The goshawk, in North America are now called American Goshawk which breed throughout most of Canada except for the high Arctic and the southern prairies. It breeds throughout British Columbia, east of the coastal mountains. During the winter it can be found as far south as northern Mexico.
In British Columbia: There are three subspecies of the American Goshawk in British Columbia. The focus of this webpage is on the subspecies (laingi) our "Coastal Goshawks”.
This subspecies lives exclusively along our west coast, in the forested areas of Haida Gwaii, Vancouver Island, the Queen Charlotte Islands, and other forested coastal areas including the Sunshine Coast.
Juvenile (left) and adult (right), by Louis Fuertes
Characteristics
Our Coastal Goshawks, subspecies laingi, are about 5% smaller and somewhat darker than the goshawk subspecies that live in the rest of mainland British Columbia east of the coastal mountains. While coastal and mainland populations may overlap in some areas, our Coastal Goshawks laingi are considered genetically distinct.
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Our Coastal Goshawk is roughly the size of a Raven. Females are noticeably larger that males. Overall they are about 60 centimetres long, and weigh between 0.6 and 1.4 kilograms. They have, expansive wings with rounded feathers and a long narrow rudder like tail. In flight they display their impressive one metre wingspan wingspan which foreshadows their impressive aerial capabilities. They forage fiercely and aggressively with speed and a precise agility that delivers their long legs and heavy talons into contact with their prey.
A prominent feature of the adults are white eyebrow-like streaks that look much like a speed-stripe passing over their piercing orange to blood-red eyes. They appear brown-blue to slate-grey on their dorsal-back and a dark grey to black crown on their head. Underparts are pale-grey with fine horizontal darker-grey bars on the chest and darker vertical streaking.
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Immature birds have yellow eyes and are generally mottled-brown in colouration with a dirty-white and have heavy streaks on the belly.
Hunting and Feeding
A dominating bird of prey, our coastal goshawk, is adapted to hunt in forested habitats. It is here that the short but expansive rounded wings and long tail support the fast and aggressive flight maneuverability required to navigate through small gaps in the forest, as they visually acquire prey and attack. Powerful wings provide surprising acceleration and turning capabilities. They literally flash through forests in pursuit of birds and mammals and strike silently with their talons extended.
On the British Columbia coast, these birds prey mainly on Red Squirrel, Steller’s Jays and Varied Thrushes, Northwestern Crows, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Blue Grouse, Varied Thrush, and Hermit Thrush and even Marbled Murrelets, if they can catch them.
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They prefer mature forested foraging areas with approximately 3600 to 4400 ha in size with adequate prey in situ. Forests and or forest edges provide suitable lookouts for the goshawk to perch and visually acquire prey, often moving from one perch to another. Overhead forest cover helps to conceal the goshawk’s flying-attack path. They forage all levels of the forest but prefer to attack prey found at the forest floor/foliage level. When prey is spotted, the attack begins with a short flight to accelerate and with that great burst of speed they often plung through tangled branches and thickets in pursuit of quarry. Other times searches for prey may be made by flying low reconnaissance routes through woods to see what prey can be snatched up.
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Tree-less clearcuts or cultivated land can also be hunted but this may places the goshawk in direct competition with and even at risk of other raptor species. Areas of regenerating forest offer little opportunity because, too often, these replanted areas are too dense with foliage for these large birds to navigate a successful attack.
Life Cycle
American Goshawk (laingi) may live in the wild for up to 11 years. In captivity these goshawks are said to live much longer, is some cases, up to 19 years.
Goshawks are non-migratory although in some years adults may move from breeding home ranges to non-breeding home ranges. socially monogamous and quite territorial, Furthermore, males and females have unique home ranges with varying degrees of overlap.
Females generally breed when 1 or 2 years old. In adulthood, both sexes are very territorial and when breeding will aggressively defend their nests. These birds do not necessarily breed every year and nests, which can be re-used, are often observed to be vacant over several years.
Males are the primary providers of food and are also known to perform aerial displays to warn-off other birds from entering their territories are. The females on the other hand are more involved in the work of building the nest. In April or early May, the female lays between 2 and 4 eggs which require about 32 days of incubation before hatching. The male and female continue their care by hunting and feeding their chicks and after about four weeks the surviving young complete their fledge and are ready for flight. Generally only half of the young survive the fledge. As the young develop and begin to hunt, it is the female eventually departs first, followed some time later by the male.
The Nests
Our Coastal Goshawks build several large stick nests in their nesting area which is usually located in forested areas. Nests are located below the canopy and within the lower third or half of the tree height. Nests have been measured to be approximately 95 cm wide and 8 cm deep. Over the years they may occupy the same or any of their alternate nest sites. Typically, goshawk nests are in one of the largest diameter trees in the nesting area, but nests may also be built in smaller trees offering nest opportunities in deformities or where proliferous branching occurs.
These birds are well known to fiercly defend their territory and their of nest and will challenge the approach of both people and other animals that if they get too close to the nest.
How can Humans Help and Respect
Northern Goshawks are very territorial about their nest and the surrounding area and are known to attack humans who intrude. Humans, if they discover a nest should immediately retreat and keep themselves distanced.
It is a very responsible act to report your sighting of these birds and their nests to the Conservation Data Centre in Victoria or to the nearest office of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. This will help to provide more information about the numbers of birds in the province. Detailed information is the most useful. The location, date, number of birds and habitat must be known, and any behaviour you see should also be reported.
Bob Duchesne has made some great videos about wildlife and this short video of Northern Goshawk is certainly worth looking at.
References:
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British Columbia’s Wildlife at Risk, Northern Goshawk, pdf: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/plants-animals-and-ecosystems/species-ecosystems-at-risk/brochures/northern_goshawk.pdf
Cornell Lab All About Birds: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goshawk/overview
Science-Based Guidelines for Managing Northern Goshawk Breeding Areas in Coastal British Columbia:
https://www.hcwildlife.ca/uploads/8/4/9/1/84917238/jem_vol_15_no_2.pdf
Government of Canada, Recovery Strategy for Northern Goshawk 2018:
Atlas for the Breeding Birds of British Columbia:
https://www.birdatlas.bc.ca/accounts/speciesaccount.jsp?lang=en&sp=NOGO
Audubon Bird Guide: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/northern-goshawk
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Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation: https://hctf.ca/about
Birdfact.com: https://birdfact.com/birds/goshawk
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