Facilitating the protection and restoration of species and ecosystems at risk on BC’s South Coast
Northern Goshawk laingi ssp.
Accipiter gentilis laingi
Accipiter
gentilis
laingi
A member of the family Accipitridae (often referred to as “forest hawks. There are two other members of the genus Accipiter in BC - Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawk. “Queen Charlotte” Goshawk (A. g. laingi). Some differences occur in size and plumage patterns between the island and mainland (atricapillus) form.
A large and long-legged hawk, this species has a long narrow tail and relatively short rounded wings, which allow it to move easily in the interior of forests. On adults the head has a black crown, white eyebrow streak and eyes are red. Adults typically have blue-grey dorsal plumage with grey barring on the chest and belly. Both sexes are similar, though as with other raptors the females are larger. Juveniles are very similar to the juveniles of other Accipiter species, with brown dorsal plumage and a dirty-white, heavily streaked belly and yellow eyes which change colour as the bird matures. The laingi subspecies is smaller and somewhat darker than the typical mainland (atricapillus) form. While island and mainland populations may overlap along some areas of the Coast Region, A.g. laingi is considered genetically distinct. Information about subspecies biology is derived from the species as a whole.
Download Species Fact Sheet in PDF
Status
Global Status:
G5T2|
Provincial Status:
S2|
SARA Status:
Threatened
BC List Status:
Red (Candidates for- Extirpated, Endangered, or Threatened status)
RESOURCES
For further information see:
A source for authoritative conservation information on thousands of plants and animals and hundreds of ecological communities in BC. From here connect to all provincial and federal recovery plans (including the SARA Registry), COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada), Identified Wildlife guidance and conservation requirements for specific species and ecological communities of conservation concern impacted by forestry activities) and links to E-Flora and E-Fauna (the Electronic Atlas of the Plants and Wildlife of British Columbia).
A joint venture resource providing comprehensive information on a range of species and ecological communities specific to the Coast Region of BC (including the South, Central and North Coast, Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii).
Environmental guidelines for urban and rural land development in BC.
Learn what species are at risk in your area, search by name, habitat type, regional district and forest district.
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