This species is the largest of the group of hawks specialized for hunting in forests and known as "accipiters". Its long tail and short, rounded wings help it to navigate between trees at high speed after small birds and squirrels.

A small number of these birds may breed in the high elevations of North Carolina , where it is on the Natural Heritage Program?s Watch List, but as of 2001 there have been no confirmed breeding records for this species in the state.

It may become a breeding species in the Smokies but is at present known mostly from sightings of birds presumably in migration, other than two June records from 1970 (Heintooga Overlook, 1625m elevation) and 1971 (Indian Gap, 1605m elevation). The most recent record is from April 11, 1981 , at Newfound Gap (1540m elevation).

References:

Gough, G. A., Sauer, J. R., Iliff, M. Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter. 1998. Version 97.1. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/infocenter.html.