By nature the Accipiter group of raptors is designed to live and hunt in very tight quarters.  This great video shows the results of an experiment set up to illustrate just how well the Goshawk can adapt to its environment in pursuit of its prey.

Note the video below as well, and can you see one of the major differences between these two adults?   What does that difference tell you?

2011: Very near downtown Denver, a lucky resident caught this very improbable visitor having lunch.  Adult Northern Goshawks normally do not appear in the metro area. The largest of America's accipiters is normally found between 8,000-10,000 feet during the nesting season, and this time of the year they migrate to lower elevations. They nest and hunt in dense woods and are generally very secretive.  Immature birds will come out onto the front range, however, even their appearances are considered rare. Typically, the birds stay in the higher foothills.

Video clip shot by Aron Yacobucci.  Approximate location is 40th and Tejon at 5281 feet of elevation.

This first year red tailed hawk, out on its own, is obviously hungry  and is not about to drop its catch even with a bicyclist bearing down on the bird. The velocipedian, however, seems oblivious of the bird on the path until the very last second.

The hawk flies off with its rodent lunch only to land on the old iron bridge. The bird allows the observer to walk up to within 6 feet while he talks to the bird who is nonplussed and continues eating.  Great clip! 

Video by Alexander Reshetniak

Thanks to our friends at Turbary Woods Owl and Bird of Prey Sanctuary in England.