Northern Goshawk - Behavior

Behavior

In the spring breeding season, Northern Goshawks perform a spectacular "undulating flight display", and this is one of the best times to see this secretive forest bird. At this time, the surprisingly gull-like call of this bird is sometimes heard. Adults defend their territories fiercely from intruders, including passing humans. It is presumed that their unusually aggressive nest defense is an adaptation to tree-climbing bears species, such as the black bear in North America. Additional predators at the nest may include formidable species such as fishers, wolves, eagles and Great Horned and Eurasian Eagle Owls. Goshawks are most under threat from hatching until their fledgling stage, and are rarely threatened outside their own species once they attain adulthood. Other raptor species are attacked at nest sites, over competition for food and in territorial behavior and many are regularly displaced or even killed by the aggressive goshawk. The Northern Goshawk is considered a secretive raptor, and is rarely observed even in areas where nesting sites are common.