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Genetic confirmation of a natural hybrid between a Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) and a Cooper’s Hawk (A. cooperii)

Christy Haughey·Arthur Nelson·Paul Napier·R. N. Rosenfield·Sarah A. Sonsthagen·Sandra L. Talbot
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Abstract

Although hybrids between captive Accipiter species are known, and hybrids between wild Accipiter species in North America have long been suspected, none have been confirmed to date. However, in 2014, a hatching year Accipiter captured at Cape May, New Jersey, during fall migration, appeared intermediate in size and plumage between a Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) and a Cooper's Hawk (A. cooperii), and was suspected to be a hybrid. We used data from mitochondrial and nuclear genes to confirm that the hawk was a hybrid female resulting from a cross between a male Cooper's Hawk and female Northern Goshawk.

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Wilson Journal of OrnithologyArticle
90° N90° S · 180° W ← longitude → 180° E
Source-reported bounding extent: 38.91027022759443° to 39.17052936145295° latitude; -75.03662109375° to -74.66583251953125° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Christy Haughey, Arthur Nelson, Paul Napier, R. N. Rosenfield, Sarah A. Sonsthagen, Sandra L. Talbot. 2020. Genetic confirmation of a natural hybrid between a Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) and a Cooper’s Hawk (A. cooperii). https://doi.org/10.1676/1559-4491-131.4.838

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