Review of Information on the Status of the Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis atricapillus) in the Western Great Lakes Region and Ontario Prepared by: Theodore Dick and David Plumpton April 1999 For further information, contact: Nongame Bird Coordinator U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive Fort Snelling, MN 55111-4056 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS USED IN THIS REPORT . iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . v SUMMARY . vi INTRODUCTION . 1 TAXONOMY . 3 Common Name. 3 Scientific Name . 3 Unresolved Taxonomic Issues . 3 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION . 3 SUMMARY OF BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION ON THE GOSHAWK IN THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES REGION AND ONTARIO . 4 Habitat . 5 Breeding Season Habitat . 5 Nest Tree . 5 Nest Site . 8 Alternative Nests/Alternative Nest Sites . 10 Nest Structure . 11 Stand Type . 11 Landscape Features . 12 Foraging Area/Home Range Size . 13 Breeding Area Occupancy . 14 Winter Habitat . 14 Life History . 15 Breeding Biology . 15 Definitions . 15 Mating/Courtship . 15 Age of Reproduction . 16 Reproductive Measures/Productivity . 16 Survival . 17 Breeding Area Fidelity/Pair Fidelity . 18 Density . 19 Distinct Populations/Metapopulations . 20 Dispersal . 20 Migration/Irruptions . 21 Population Cycles . 22 Predation . 23 i Disease . 23 Siblicide/Cannibalism . 24 Prey Use . 24 GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION . 27 CURRENT AND HISTORICAL RANGE . 29 Historical Range in the Region . 29 Illinois Historical Range . 31 Michigan Historical Range . 31 Michigan Current Range . 31 Minnesota Historical Range . 31 Minnesota Current Range . 32 Wisconsin Historical Range . 32 Wisconsin Current Range . 33 Ontario Historical Range . 33 Ontario Current Range . 33 POTENTIAL THREATS . 34 Present or Threatened Destruction, Modification or Curtailment of Habitat or Range . 34 Overutilization for Commercial, Recreational, Scientific or Educational Purposes . 34 Disease or Predation . 34 Inadequacy of Existing Regulatory Mechanisms . 35 Other Natural or Manmade Factors Affecting its Continued Existence . 35 MANAGEMENT ACTIONS NEEDED TO PRECLUDE THE NEED FOR LISTING AS ENDANGERED OR THREATENED . 35 CURRENT PROTECTIVE STATUS UNDER STATE/PROVINCIAL/ FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS . 36 United States Federal Status . 36 Forest Service Eastern Region Status . 38 Nature Conservancy Global Ranking . 38 Fish and Wildlife Service Region 3 Status . 39 Michigan Status . 39 Minnesota Status . 39 Wisconsin Status . 39 Canadian Status . 39 Ontario Status . 39 Regulation of Falconry in U.S. 40 Regulation of Falconry in Canada . 41 ii PAST AND CURRENT CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN TO BENEFIT THE SPECIES OR ITS HABITAT . 43 Habitat Michigan . 43 Minnesota . 43 Wisconsin . 43 Ontario . 44 Monitoring . 45 Research . 46 Ongoing Research . 46 Research Needs . ..