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Forest Raptors

In Wisconsin, the group of birds termed Forest Raptors includes many resident and migratory hawk and owl species. This list includes: Northern Goshawk, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Merlin, American Kestrel, Long-eared Owl, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Great Gray Owl, Eastern Screech Owl, and Northern Saw-whet Owl. As top carnivores, raptors are viewed as barometers of environmental health.

Many Forest Raptor species are secretive and difficult to census, thus basic abundance or status information is lacking. In 2002, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources began to place additional emphasis on collecting data to fill these gaps through educational materials, training, and field surveys. The following pages contain information from this work and additional Forest Raptor projects throughout Wisconsin and the Upper Great Lakes.



Reporting Form
Report observations of forest raptors; especially Northern Goshawks, Red-shouldered Hawks, and Merlins
Bioregional Monitoring for Goshawks
A survey to determine the presence of goshawks in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan



Identification guide to selected forest raptor species:





 
Photos (from left): Red-shouldered Hawk nestling -- Jim Woodford; Northern Goshawk with prey -- Michele Woodford;
      Adult Northern Goshawk -- Jim Woodford.