IDENTITY RECORD

Northern Goshawk

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Accipiter gentilis

DESCRIPTION

A large raptor, I am about 60 cm long with a wingspan of up to 130 cm. I weigh between 800 grams and 1.5 kilos.

Behavior

DIET

I feed on birds, mostly pigeons, both wild and domestic, and doves. I’m not too fussy and happily eat mammals such as leverets and European rabbits too.

REPRODUCTION

I breed between February and March, laying two to five eggs on average.

LIFESPAN

I can live for up to 19 years.

Where and when can you find me in the reserve ?

HABITAT

I live in large forests.

WHEN TO SPOT ME

I am sedentary and discreet outside my mating season and when raising my chicks.

Conservation status

• Red list of nesting birds in metropolitan France: Least Concern (LC);
• Red list of endangered nesting birds in Alsace: Vulnerable (VU);
• Protected in France.