American Goshawk – State Wildlife Action Plan

Photo Credit: Norbert Kenntner, Wikimediacommons

The American Goshawk is a raven-sized hawk, and like other hawks in the genus Accipiter is adapted to maneuver through forest landscapes to ambush and capture prey. The American Goshawk is a forest species, occupying a variety of forest types. They predominantly nest in dense stands of mature or late seral conifers, but additionally are found less frequently nesting in other forest types. American Goshawks have short round wings and long tails. Adult plumage is gray on the upper-parts and barred pale gray/white on underparts. Immatures are generally brown with striping on underparts. Typically has a strong white stripe above the eye
The American Goshawk was previously known as the Northern Goshawk, with taxonomic revision by the American Ornithological Society in 2023. Three subspecies recognized in North America. A. a. atricapillus is the only subspecies regularly occurring in Oregon.

Overview

Species Common Name American Goshawk
Species Scientific Name Accipiter atricapillus
Federal Listing Status Species of Concern
State Listing Status Sensitive

Ecoregions

Coast Range

Oregon's Coast Range, known for its dramatic scenery, is extremely diverse, with habitats ranging from open sandy dunes to lush forests and from tidepools to headwater streams. It follows the coastline and extends east through coastal forest to the border of the Willamette Valley and Klamath Mountains ecoregions

East Cascades

The East Cascade ecoregion extends from the Cascade Mountains' summit east to the warmer, drier high desert and down the length of the state. This ecoregion varies dramatically from its cool, moist border with the West Cascades ecoregion to its dry eastern border, where it meets sagebrush desert landscapes.

West Cascades

The West Cascades ecoregion extends from east of the Cascade Mountains summit to the foothills of the Willamette, Umpqua, and Rogue Valleys, and spans the entire length of the state of Oregon. It is largely dominated by conifer forests, moving into alpine parklands and dwarf shrubs at higher elevations.

Special needs

American Goshawks have large area requirements and are typically found in large, forested areas with a mosaic of tree stages, forest openings, and habitat components (e.g., snags, downed logs). An open forest floor provides access to ground dwelling prey.

Limiting factors

American Goshawks have large area requirements and are adversely affected by reductions in late-successional forest.

Data gaps

• Evaluate how population demographics are impacted by increased habitat fragmentation or by changes in structure.
• Evaluate demographic vital rates across the state and determine population trends. Migration and roadside counts have limited utility due to low detections and irruptive movements.
• Obtain information on the size of American Goshawk home ranges or territories in Oregon.
• Verify whether American Goshawks in Oregon are sedentary or partially migratory.
• Determine habitat/species relationship.
• Estimate population densities and population size in Oregon.
• Evaluate and verify nesting habitat parameters in Oregon.
• Confirm conservation parameters with agency falconry policy and administrative rules.

Conservation actions

• Maintain late-successional forest habitat.

• Maintain natural forest openings through prescribed fire, thinning, and hand-removal of encroaching conifers.

Key reference or plan

Northern Goshawk Inventory and Monitoring Technical Guide. Read here

Habitat conservation for landbirds in coniferous forests of western Oregon and Washington. Version 2.0 Read here

Altman, B. and B. Bresson. 2017. Conservation of landbirds and associated habitats and ecosystems in the Northern Rocky Mountains of Oregon and Washington. Version 2.0. Read here