Red goshawk
Common name: Red goshawk
Scientific name: Erythrotriorchis radiatus
Family: Accipitridae
Animal group: raptors
Conservation status: This species is listed as Endangered in Queensland (Nature Conservation Act 1992) and is Vulnerable nationally (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999). It is ranked as a high priority under the Department of Environment and Resource Management ‘Back on Track’ species prioritisation framework.
Description
The red goshawk is a large raptor (i.e. bird of prey) with a total body length of 45-58cm and a wingspan of 110-135cm. Its overall body colour is reddish-brown with darker mottling. Its head is white and streaked with darker feathers. Fully extended, its wings show a series of black bands from below and it has a grey barred tail. It has long yellow legs with the upper legs covered by rusty red feathers.
Habitat and Distribution
The red goshawk has an enormous home range covering between 50 and 220 square kilometres. It prefers a mix of vegetation types with its habitat including tall open forest, woodland, lightly treed savannah and the edge of rainforest.
It occurs over eastern Queensland and across northern Australia, and there are also confirmed sightings from central Australia. Its distribution once extended to Sydney but it is now virtually extinct south of the New South Wales border. The stronghold population of red goshawks is in the Northern Territory and the Tiwi Islands.
Adult red goshawks in northern Australia do not migrate, whereas some adults in south-east Australia migrate from the ranges to lowlands in winter (Czechura 1996).
Life History and Behaviour
The red goshawk is a solitary bird that usually attacks from a perch by gliding straight at its prey. It mainly preys on birds but will take mammals, reptiles and even insects. It will also attack prey from the air and follows fires and other disturbances looking for any animals that are flushed out. It moves frequently from perch to perch when hunting and will soar for extended periods of time in search of prey.
The male red goshawk does most of the nest building, creating a large platform of dead sticks lined with twigs and green leaves. The nest is located in an exposed fork in the top of a living tree between 10 and 20m above the ground. The same nest sites are used each year.
Breeding generally occurs from September to November, with females laying one or two eggs from August to October in the south-east and May to October in the northern part of Australia. The female incubates the eggs for 39-43 days, with the eggs hatching a few days apart. The young are fully fledged after seven to eight weeks but are not fully independent for at least another ten weeks.
Threatening processes
Much of the red goshawk's habitat has been cleared for urban development, agriculture and forestry. This has also reduced the availability of large nesting trees and prey. Heavy grazing and frequent burning may also contribute to a reduction in available prey.
Illegal shooting and egg collecting are also threats to these birds.
There are now fewer than 1000 adult goshawks (estimated to be 25-30 pairs in southern Queensland and 30-35 pairs in the Wet Tropics).
Recovery actions
Nest sites are being monitored to determine breeding success and prevent disturbance. The location of these nest sites is also being kept confidential to further limit the possibility of disturbance to breeding pairs and young birds in the nest.
Increase community awareness about the red goshawk and conservation through educational materials.
Last reviewed 23 February 2011
Last updated 21 July 2010