The Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) is a rarely seen bird of prey found throughout the mountain regions of Colorado. Because of its reticent manner, very little has been written on Northern Goshawk population densities in Colorado or any other part of the United States. Recently, a five year study was completed in Alaska which showed a nesting density ranging from one nest per 46 km² to one nest per 373 km² (McGowan 1975). Although this nesting density is lower than those found in similar studies in Finland which showed densities of one nest per 22–100 km² (Hogland 1964) and one nest per 16.4 km² (Hakala 1969), no other study has been reported in the United States. In Colorado, very few active nests have been reported, and as a result, state and federal agencies have described the Northern Goshawk as rare or occasional.