How to Identify Goshawks

By eHow Hobbies, Games & Toys Editor

Instructions

Step 1:
Learn about the habitat of the Northern Goshawk, that is found in much of North America, including the northern and western continental United States, Canada and Alaska. It usually lives in dense forests that are either coniferous or mixed forests.
Step 2:
Observe the appearance of the Northern Goshawk. This bird has a distinctive stripe near its eyes, as well as thick white eyebrows. Look for a dark blue head, a blue-gray back and white underparts with gray barring. Their wings are broad and rounded in shape, and they have a long, wedge-shaped tail. The tail has a white tip, dark, wavy bands on its top and fluffy feathers underneath the tail. Females are mostly brown on their upperparts and they have coarser barring on their underparts. Juveniles have brown upperparts and buff underparts that have brown streaks on them.
Step 3:
Take note of the size of the Northern Goshawk. These are large hawks that are 53 to 64 cm in size. They have a wingspan of 103 to 117 cm and weigh between 631 and 1364 g. The females are larger in size than the males.
Step 4:
Listen for the call of the Northern Goshawk. The bird is usually silent, but it does make sounds that are harsh and sounds like a "kuk-kuk-kuk" when it is alarmed.
Step 5:
Watch the Northern Goshawk in flight. The Northern Goshawk can often be seeing soaring or gliding high overhead. They alternate rapid wing beats with glides during flight.

Tips & Warnings

Don't confuse the Northern Goshawk with the Sharp-Shinned Hawk that is smaller and has a shorter tail. It also has a smaller head and neck profile.
Don't confuse the Northern Goshawk with the Gyrfalcon. The Gyrfalcon shows slower wing beats during flight, and it has longer wings than the Northern Goshawk.
Don't confuse the Northern Goshawk with Cooper's Hawk. Cooper's Hawk is smaller, with a longer tail and no eye stripe.

Resources

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