Northern Goshawk

Accipiter atricapillus

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
ABNKC12061
Common Name: 
Northern Goshawk
Scientific Name: 
Accipiter atricapillus
Synonyms: 
Accipiter gentilis
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Accipitriformes
Family: 
Accipitridae
References: 
B125
ASC13
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

~ 1 year
References: 
R075
Habitat
variety of coniferous, mixed wood and deciduous habitats, prefering mature or old growth forest with closed canopy for nesting
References: 
R075
Distribution

Ecozones

Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Cordillera, Boreal Plains
References: 
B004

Distribution

0.54; Uncommon permanent resident in the forested portion of the Territory, north to the Mackenzie Valley to Deline,
Score: 
G
References: 
R075
Winter Distribution Description: 
in breeding range and southward

Number of Occurrences

According to estimated no. of pairs, more than 100 pot. Nest sites
Score: 
DE
References: 
H126

Area of Occupancy

unknown - prob. Stable
Score: 
-
References: 
LWR01
R075
W027
Population

Population Size

rare but ubiquitous breeders in North (10,000 - 50,000 pairs in Canada); according to distribution prob. 1/10 of this are in NWT -1000 to 5000 pairs(R075,H126);Norman Wells and Inuvik (NWT Checklist project); Sight record near the mouth of the Hornaday River. High count: 7 individuals; 13 May 1972; Fort Good Hope to Norman Wells (aerials survey); Michael Sheperd, eBird 2012.
Score: 
EF
References: 
H126
R075
B125

Density

1 pair per 46 to 55 sq.kms
Trends

Trends

cyclic popn fluctuations coinciding with prey popns of ptarmigan and hare; National trend = 3 but may be in decline, northern trend unknown (LWR01) ; BBS 1967-2000 (Canada): -2.6 (-29.7 to 35.1), P =0.88, N=15 routes, BBS 1966-2000 (North America): -2.0 (-6.7 to 2.7), P =0.42, N=53 routes, CBC 1959-1988 (North America): 0.2 (-0.6 to 1.1), NS, N=1007 countsPoorly sampled by Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), and irruptions complicate hawk counts. Nonetheless, hawk watches suggest low numbers in the 1930s, with increases thereafter and stable numbers from 1970-1994 (Squires and Reynolds 1997). (W027)
References: 
LWR01
R075
W027
Threats

Threats

In the South human disturbance, pesticides, poaching, loss of habitat, prey availability; limited threats in NWT
References: 
H126
R075

Intrinsic Vulnerability

logging; limited in NWT
Score: 
C
References: 
H126
R075
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
But may have small population in some year of low prey levels
S Rank: 
S4S5
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Suzanne Carriere based on printed references. Reviewed in 2005 by S Carrière based on printed literature only :no change in rank; Reviewed in 2010;no change; Reviewed in 2015, no change. ; Reviewed in 2020, no change
Last Updated: 
June 17, 2020
Status Designations

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSEWIC Status: 
Not At Risk
References: 
R075

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Duncan P and Kirk DA (1995) Status report on the Queen Charlotte goshawk Accipiter gentilis laingi an northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis atricapillus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R075 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • Downes, C.M., E.H. Dunn and C.M Francis (2000) Canadian Landbird Monitoring Strategy: monitoring needs and priorities into the new millenium.. Partners in Flight - Canada A 9-15 EC-CWS, Yellowknife (L. Wakelyn) - or communicate with Erica H. Dunn, CWS in Hull, QC, at erica.dunn@ec,gc,ca - LWR01 Return
  • Duncan P and Kirk DA (1995) Status report on the Queen Charlotte goshawk Accipiter gentilis laingi an northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis atricapillus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R075 Return
  • Dunn, E.H (2005) National action needs for Canadian Landbird Conservation,. Canadian Wildlife Service Landbird Committee, Version 1. [http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/birds/action/index_e.cfm]. - W027 Return
COSEWIC Status
  • Duncan P and Kirk DA (1995) Status report on the Queen Charlotte goshawk Accipiter gentilis laingi an northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis atricapillus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R075 Return

Ecozones

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Habitat

  • Duncan P and Kirk DA (1995) Status report on the Queen Charlotte goshawk Accipiter gentilis laingi an northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis atricapillus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R075 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return
  • Duncan P and Kirk DA (1995) Status report on the Queen Charlotte goshawk Accipiter gentilis laingi an northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis atricapillus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R075 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return

Population Size

Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return
,
Duncan P and Kirk DA (1995) Status report on the Queen Charlotte goshawk Accipiter gentilis laingi an northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis atricapillus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R075 Return
,
Squires, J. R., and R. T. Reynolds. (1997) Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). In The Birds of North America,. The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists’ Union,(A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.) No. 298 http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA/ - B125 Return

Range Extent

  • Duncan P and Kirk DA (1995) Status report on the Queen Charlotte goshawk Accipiter gentilis laingi an northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis atricapillus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R075 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Downes, C.M., E.H. Dunn and C.M Francis (2000) Canadian Landbird Monitoring Strategy: monitoring needs and priorities into the new millenium.. Partners in Flight - Canada A 9-15 EC-CWS, Yellowknife (L. Wakelyn) - or communicate with Erica H. Dunn, CWS in Hull, QC, at erica.dunn@ec,gc,ca - LWR01 Return
  • Duncan P and Kirk DA (1995) Status report on the Queen Charlotte goshawk Accipiter gentilis laingi an northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis atricapillus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R075 Return
  • Dunn, E.H (2005) National action needs for Canadian Landbird Conservation,. Canadian Wildlife Service Landbird Committee, Version 1. [http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/birds/action/index_e.cfm]. - W027 Return

Taxonomy

  • Squires, J. R., and R. T. Reynolds. (1997) Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). In The Birds of North America,. The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists’ Union,(A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.) No. 298 http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA/ - B125 Return
  • Chesser, R. Terry, Richard C. Banks, F. Keith Barker, Carla Cicero, Jon L. Dunn, Andrew W. Kratter, Irby J. Lovette, Pamela C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, James D. Rising, Douglas F. Stotz, Kevin Winker. (2010) Fifty-first supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-List of North American Birds.. Auk 127(3):726-744. - ASC13 Return

Threats

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return
  • Duncan P and Kirk DA (1995) Status report on the Queen Charlotte goshawk Accipiter gentilis laingi an northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis atricapillus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R075 Return