Get to know some of the more common birds that live in the forest: Northern Goshawk: this hawk eats squirrels, hares and other birds like woodpeckers, grouse and Blue Jays. Great Horned Owl: Great Horned Owls usually hunt at night but in winter will sometimes hunt during the day. The best time to see them is at dusk. Downy Woodpecker: this little woodpecker has feathered nostrils so it doesn't get sawdust in its nose when it is pecking wood.