According to many experts, decline of the northern goshawk may be due, at least in part, to timber harvests, but other causes are also widely cited. Some fear that listing the species could further reduce timber harvests in western States. Forested areas all around the northern hemisphere. Northern goshawks are found in coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forests. For foraging and nesting, northern goshawks depend on forests that have a high density of large, old trees and high overstory canopy.
Nests tend to be found near a source of water and on moderate north-facing slopes.
Older forests are required as the northern goshawk needs large trees for its bulky nests and requires space in and below the canopy to pursue and capture prey. Because the birds have large home ranges they tend to favor sizable stands of forests, with a reported home range of approximately 6000 acres. A variety of experts point to numerous threats. This bird of prey has short, rounded wings and a long tail. Such adaptations permit the bird to maneuver rapidly through dense cover in pursuit of its prey.