Week 42 – Northern Goshawk

 

Juvenile male Northern Goshawk. Photograph by Neil Paprocki.

Another photo this week from the Goshutes in Nevada.

If you look closely at this bird’s right leg you’ll notice a silver aluminum band. These bands have a unique number on them that will identify this individual bird if he happens to be captured somewhere else during his life. This information helps scientists gather vital information about the movements of raptors and other birds.

There are three species of Accipiters, or forest hawks, in North America. Sharp-shinned Hawks are the smallest followed by the slightly larger Cooper’s Hawk. The Northern Goshawk is the largest of the Accipiters, and by far the most aggressive.

All of the previous 52-week blog photos can be found at the Wild Lens blog or on Flickr.