Shinta, the goshawk that participated in the study, is shown here wearing the helmet camera in flight (Photo credit: Robert Musters)
Goshawks hunt by fixing their eyes on their prey. Their method is so effective that the hawks pursuit of their target can be over in seconds. Using cameras mounted on the heads of the birds, researchers analysed the raptors’ pursuit strategy from a birds-eye perspective. They found that Goshawks used different strategies at different stages of the pursuit and that victims, such as rabbits or pheasants, must turn abruptly to break the attacker’s gaze to survive.
The Northern Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) involved in this study can be found throughout Canada.
Video and additional images are available.
Original research paper published in The Journal of Experimental Biology on January 21, 2015.
Names and affiliations of selected authors
Suzanne Kane, Haverford College, U.S.A.
