Page created on : May 1, 2002
Last updated : June 11, 2005

A bird of prey that hunts by day, the Northern goshawk is a relative of the eagle, hawk and osprey. Found across Canada, this bird is slate grey with a pale grey underbelly. A white or pale-grey stripe extends from the base of its bill to the back of its crown. Its tail, made up of three to five black bars of plumage, is accented by a gray tip. A carnivore, the northern goshawk feeds on other birds and mammals - primarily on grouse, rabbits, squirrels, mice and snakes.