Ambush From a Tree Perch: teacher key

Northern Goshawks, grade 7 edition, written for 7th grade. A large hawk hunts in the woods by waiting and watching, then moving fast between the trees. Learn how its body, its perch and its forest work together.

Read the book. Print this page for the key.

Questions and answers

1. What do the Birds of North America authors call a goshawk's speed through forests?
   • Astonishing (answer)
   • Slow
   • Careless
2. What does an open understory help a goshawk do?
   • Build a nest
   • Spot prey (answer)
   • Fly higher
3. About how much forest does each nesting pair need?
   • About 6 acres
   • Roughly 60 square feet
   • Roughly 6,000 acres (answer)
4. Where does a goshawk usually hunt from?
   • Tree perches (answer)
   • The open sea
   • Cliff ledges
5. Why does a goshawk's body suit thick forest?
   • Its wings are very long
   • Its short wings and long tail help it speed up and steer (answer)
   • It stays on the ground

Words

• accipiter: forest hawk
• canopy: treetop layer
• understory: space under trees
• ambushes: waits, then rushes