Abstract
The nest site characteristics of Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis, Grey-faced Buzzard Butastur indicus, Buzzard Buteo buteo and Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus were studied in Tochigi and Nagano prefectures, central Japan. Regional differences were found in the nesting tree species used by goshawk; with Japanese Cedar Cryptomeria japonica used mainly in Tochigi and Japanese Red Pine Pinus densiflora used mainly in Nagano. Other raptors also nested in Japanese Red Pine. Goshawk nested on one of the largest trees in the forest, but there was no similar tendency in Grey-faced Buzzard. The specific characteristic of the forests where goshawk nested was that they had less tree coverage in lower tree layers than forests used by other raptor species.
