Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis By: Bangich Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Falconiformes Family: Accipitridae Genus: Accipiter Species:  gentilis

Natural History

Birds are warm-blooded animals. It means that they can keep a constant body temperature. Because all birds use a large amount of energy they have a high body temperature. People like us have a body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius. But birds have a body temperature of 45 degrees Celsius.

Birds are members of the Class Aves and are really easy to identify. They have wings, a bill, two legs, and a covering full of feathers on their body. Feathers, besides being really beautiful, can help birds in many ways. They provide birds with a covering that is strong and flexible enough to move when flying. Feathers on a bird grow on the outer layer of the bird's body.

The Northern goshawk, for example, is a beautiful bird. They have good eyesight, muscular legs, and strong rounded wings. Northern goshawk have really sharp beaks and claws. Each of these characteristics is an adaptation for capturing and killing their prey. Most Northern goshawks kill their prey using their claws to capture the prey and their beaks to tear them apart. Hawks are a large group of birds that have an enormous feeding habits. Hawks hunt slowly while flying low over the ground, although they can make a sudden burst of speed.

Habitat

The Northern goshawk is normally found in the northern parts of the United States. It usually lives alone except for females that have young ones with them for several months after birth. The Northern goshawk inhabits hardwood and coniferous forest in northern regions from sea level to the tree line.

Physical Description

They have long, thin toes with sharp, curving claws. They also have a sharp beak to rip their food to pieces. Female goshawks are bigger than the male goshawk. They range from ten to twenty-seven inches long. and they weigh from three ounces when they’re babies to five pounds when they’re grown up.

Diet & Feeding Habits

The Northern goshawk eats small mammals, fish, reptiles, insects, and smaller birds. They sit on a branch and wait for their prey. Once they spot their prey they dive down and grab it with their claws. It also eats bones, feathers, and fur as well as flesh. The food that they can't digest, they spit out in pellets.

Personal Essay

What is the value of wilderness to modern society? The value of wilderness to modern society is important because what we do to the environment or to the animals we are doing to ourselves. That is why I think we should treat our environment and other animals the same way we treat ourselves...with respect.

Bibliography

1.  CRS Report for Congress.  http://www.NCSEonline.org/nle/crsreports/biodiversity/bidv-23.  (March 4, 2003)

2.  Corn, M. Lynne. "The Northern Goshawk: Future Endangered Species?" 24/06/94.

3.  Balgooyen, Thomas G. "Hawk." World Book.  2001.

4. Clark, Neal. Eastern Birds of Prey. Thordike, ME: Thordike Press, 1983.