N goshawk at Marie Curtis?

[Jules]

Evening all from Saskatoon. I’m a former board member, from my Toronto days.


 A good friend who is observant and not a birder was at the off leash park at Marie Curtis park today. Her small dog narrowly escaped a grab by a “large, gunmetal grey, long tailed” bird that then came around for another pass, then sat in a nearby tree. Back and forth with her strongly suggests a northern goshawk. Opinions needed, please!


Apologies if this has already been posted. Not used to the new forum on my phone, and I’ve not been able to
find the search option.

[Napper]

Could it have been a Northern Harrier Adult Male? Harrier males are grey with long tails.
Goshawk's are very large,  bulky looking nasty Accipiters. How small was the dog?

Google Northern harrier adult male images

then

Google Northern Goshawk adult male images

There is quite a difference.
Hope it helps


Napper

[Axeman]

I'm rooting for NG....could a Harrier really take a small dog?

[Axeman]

I didn't see anything on e-bird about a Goshawk

[MEGHAN]

A NG would be almost unheard of down here. They are ferocious and if there was one picking off small dogs at the LF then someone would be screaming bloody murder and everyone would know about it.

[Axeman]

I recall there being one in Brampton maybe a decade ago.....attracting a great deal of attention....and I've heard of the odd sighting here and there....always during winter....same as with the Hawk Owl.

[Dinusaur]

Someone just reported seeing one today (March 17) in Etobicoke at the mouth of Mimico Creek, may be the same one.