The Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) is the larger relative of the Sparrowhawk and one of the forest's most formidable hunters, breeding in old-growth woodland across the entire country except the bare mountains. It measures 48–62 cm with a wingspan of 93–127 cm; males weigh 600–1,100 grams and females, notably larger, 900–2,000 grams. Adults are slate-grey above with a finely barred white underside, a clear white eyebrow stripe and a red-yellow eye, while juveniles are buff-brown above with brown-streaked underparts. Near the nest it gives a sharp "gek-gek-gek" call, but is otherwise largely silent.
Sweden holds an estimated 6,000–8,000 breeding pairs, with density varying from around 4 pairs per 100 km² in the south to just 1–2 in the north, and the species hunts by watching from concealed perches at the forest edge, struggling in fully open terrain — in central Swedish coniferous landscapes a pair may range across nearly 60 km², though in game-rich farmland as little as 20 km² can suffice. It is a year-round resident, taking pigeons, black grouse, crows, squirrels and hares through stealthy flight and sudden surprise attacks; in winter, forest-dwelling birds shift heavily toward squirrels, while those in farmland also take pheasant and brown hare. The large stick nest is built high in an old spruce or pine, often reused and added to for years, with pairs typically maintaining several alternative nests within one territory. The female incubates 1–5 eggs, usually laid in late April, for about 35 days, and the young remain in the nest for 35–40 days more. Though globally classed as Least Concern, the Goshawk is red-listed as Near Threatened in Sweden, a decline linked mainly to modern forestry's shortage of old forest.
Read about this species in Swedish →