Birds
Northern Goshawk
Accipiter gentilis · Uliu porumbar
A powerful forest hawk, rarely seen well, hunting birds and mammals among trees.
At a glance
- Status in Romania
- Resident
- Habitat
- Forest
- Activity
- Morning · Daytime
- Diet
- Mainly small and medium-sized birds and mammals.
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN)
- Photography difficulty
- Difficult
Identification
Large hawk with broad wings. Adults are grey above with fine barring below and a bold white eyebrow; young birds are brown and streaked.
Habitat
Coniferous, deciduous or mixed forest from lowlands to mountains, with open habitats nearby.
Distribution
Present across the country except in extensive farmland without significant forest.
Approximate range in Romania
When it is active
Morning · Daytime
Diet
Mainly small and medium-sized birds and mammals.
Behaviour
Hunts by surprise, using trees as cover. Displays above the canopy in late winter.
Seasonality in Romania
Breeds in Romania and is resident.
- JanPresent
- FebPresent
- MarPresent
- AprPresent
- MayPresent
- JunPresent
- JulPresent
- AugPresent
- SepPresent
- OctPresent
- NovPresent
- DecPresent
Source-verified months inform the seasonal filters. Local timing can vary. Unconfirmed months do not imply absence. * Event timing retained from the earlier entry, not yet source-verified.
How to find it
Watch over forest edges on clear late-winter mornings for display flights.
Photography
General guidance based on the species’ behaviour, not a report of Nick’s personal field experience.
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Starting shutter speed
- 1/2000 sec or faster for flight.
- Ethics
- Extremely sensitive at the nest. Never approach nesting woods.
Practical starting points, not fixed rules.