Folding Wings in Tight Spaces: teacher key

Northern Goshawks, grade 8 edition, written for 8th grade. A goshawk can fold its wings to pass through gaps between branches. Read how forest shape decides where it can hunt.

Read the book. Print this page for the key.

Questions and answers

1. What does a goshawk do to fit through tight spaces?
   • Folds its wings back (answer)
   • Closes its eyes
   • Walks on the ground
2. What does a goshawk do to make up for reduced lift?
   • Flaps more slowly
   • Fans out its large tail (answer)
   • Flies higher
3. How high are its preferred hunting perches?
   • About 100 feet
   • Always in the canopy
   • Usually under 3 feet (answer)
4. What does good hunting forest have?
   • Space under the canopy (answer)
   • Only young dense trees
   • No perches
5. Why might very dense young forest be hard for a goshawk?
   • It has no wings
   • Its large body needs room to fly (answer)
   • It cannot see color

Words

• saplings: young trees
• canopy: treetop layer
• hectares: land measure