PETERSBURG, Pa. — Three new hawks have joined the flock at the Klingsberg Aviary at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, including a forest-dwelling goshawk and two rough-legged hawks native to Pennsylvania’s grasslands.

Both goshawks and rough-legged hawks can be found in Pennsylvania, especially in winter months when they migrate south from Canada.

“I don't think people realize how many raptors there are in Pennsylvania in the winter,” said Joe Whitehead, Shaver’s Creek aviary coordinator. "Winter is a great season for birding, especially if you're into raptors.”

Stellar, a gray Northern goshawk with copper-colored eyes and a snowy white chest, is being introduced to the public this month. A tarp covering part of his enclosure at the aviary was removed on Monday.

Stellar — which means relating to the stars — is a reference to the songbirds that Goshawks and other accipitrine hawks rely on, which primarily migrate at night. These songbirds use the stars and moon to help them navigate in the spring and fall and can become lost or confused when there is too much artificial light around homes and communities.

“We often say that dark skies save lives, and we hope the public will join us in efforts to preserve our night sky both for ourselves and for our local wildlife,” Whitehead said.

Goshawks inhabit the boreal pine forests of Canada and typically migrate to Pennsylvania from November through March or April. It’s rare to see a goshawk in Pennsylvania because of their low numbers and their preference for living deep in the forest, Whitehead said. Goshawks were added to the state endangered species list in 2021.

Goshawks are known for their athleticism and ability to maneuver. They are one of the fastest accelerating birds on the planet, able to accelerate from zero to 40 mph in a matter of seconds and maintain those high speeds for short sprints while chasing their prey, usually smaller birds, Whitehead said.

While goshawks live in Pennsylvania’s forests, rough-legged hawks — named for the feathers that extend down to their toes — typically migrate to open fields and marshes in central Pennsylvania in winter from the Hudson Bay region of Canada.

The new rough-legged hawks at Shaver’s Creek are named Alder and Willow, after two common marshland tree species, the branches of which are used by rough-legged hawks to build nests and by humans to make baskets, packs and beds.

Alder, with a pale head and underwings, is the more common “light morph” version of rough-legged hawk, found near the poles throughout the northern hemisphere. The mostly dark-brown Willow is a “dark morph,” found only in eastern North America. The two came to Pennsylvania from a rehabilitation center in Wisconsin, where they had been injured by cars.

Rough-legged hawks in the wild feed on small rodents. They hunt by hovering silently above fields, scanning for mice and rodents, then plunging down to catch them. "They have these tiny little feet that are very endearing and cute," Whitehead said, "because they don't need very large feet to catch larger prey.”

Hawks can control rodents better than rodenticides and can be a great asset to farmers, Whitehead said. “All they want to do is hunt rodents. They really aren't interested in anything larger.”

Pennsylvania is often associated with woods — its very name means "Penn’s woods" — but early European accounts describe its valleys as open, grassy areas, Whitehead said. Both grasslands and grassland species are declining in the state today, but people can help with conservation efforts by creating favorable habitats for insects and birds.

“Grasslands are a very accessible habitat type for most people to get involved with, because anybody can plant native flowers in their yard,” Whitehead said. “Even a planter box on an apartment balcony or windowsill can encourage insects and other small wildlife. If enough people do it, and stop using rodenticides, we can help some of these raptors.”

Visitors can learn more about the hawks and other resident birds at Shaver’s Creek at free weekly “Meet the Creek” programs held each Saturday and Sunday. View the schedule at this link.

Learn more about citizen science projects such as the Christmas Bird Count and winter raptor survey at the citizen science projects page.