Astur atricapillus
The American Goshawk, often dubbed the 'Gray Ghost' due to its swift, silent hunting style and elusive nature, is a powerful and majestic raptor of the Accipitridae family. This large accipiter measures approximately 53-66 cm (21-26 in) in length with a formidable wingspan of 98-124 cm (38-49 in), making it the largest accipiter in North America. Adults exhibit striking slate-gray upperparts, finely barred white and gray underparts, and a distinctive white supercilium contrasting with a dark ...
This formidable raptor primarily inhabits extensive tracts of mature and old-growth coniferous, deciduous, or mixed forests, preferring areas with dense canopy cover and large trees for nesting. They can be found from sea level up to significant mountain elevations in their breeding range.
The American Goshawk primarily preys on medium-sized birds (e.g., grouse, jays, woodpeckers) and small to medium-sized mammals (e.g., squirrels, hares, chipmunks), hunting via ambush or rapid pursuit through dense forest.
American Goshawks are highly diurnal hunters, active from dawn to dusk, employing a stealthy ambush strategy, often perching inconspicuously before launching a lightning-fast attack. They are masters of maneuvering through dense forest, using trees and undergrowth for cover to surprise prey. Duri...
The American Goshawk boasts a Holarctic distribution, with its breeding range extending across the vast boreal and temperate forests of North America. In North America, it breeds from Alaska and much of Canada south through the northern tier of the contiguous United States, with significant popul...
Least Concern
- The American Goshawk is known as the 'Gray Ghost' for its silent, swift flight and elusive nature through dense forest. - Females are significantly larger and more powerful than males, sometimes weighing twice as much, a trait known as reversed sexual dimorphism. - Goshawks are among the most a...