Hungry Teen

(American Goshawk)

How do you illustrate a juvenile Goshawk? I imagined big, worried eyes and a constant, needy whistle emanating from his wide-open beak. For birders, that vertically striped breast and brown color may be better give aways.

Mostly mom, and occasionally dad, continue to feed the juveniles as their mature feathers develop and harden. The juveniles sit on the nest, get fat, stretch their wings—a good life, if you can find it. Mom and dad are fierce protectors during this stage and don’t discriminate between four-legged or two-legged intruders. Birders beware.

Interestingly, there is little information about the birds’ first two years of life. Maybe they are just too difficult to find and track. But it is known that their vertically striped breasts molt to a wavy, horizontal pattern and both males and females grow grayer and darker, developing the distinct slate-colored crowns by their second year.