Page 141 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

BIRDS OF PREY
Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae Species Accipiter gentilis
Goshawk round
head
dark cap with pale
stripe over eye
brown
upperparts deep chest
and broad
shoulders
broad black-streaked,
wings rich buff below
greyish to brownish
upperparts (female
wears browner)
JUVENILE

whitish
S-shaped underside,
trailing JUVENILE with fine
edge grey barring
protruding head
MALE
ADULT
wings
fingered
at tip, or
angled back long,
to point round tail white
under tail
IN FLIGHT
powerful, awesome predator, the Goshawk is a much more
Asubstantial hawk than the Sparrowhawk; females, especially, can
look remarkably large. Goshawks are scarce, through persecution,in FLIGHT: direct flight fast, with deep, quick
most areas,but making a comeback in others,including the UK wingbeats between short glides; soars with wings at
where they have been illegally full stretch, tail rounded.
released or simply escaped to
establish wild populations.
They usually sit, well-hidden,
in trees and occasionally soar
over forest. Goshawks are best
looked for over extensive
woodland in early spring,
soaring over their territories.
VOICE Woodpecker-like, nasal BOLD PREDATOR
gek-gek-gek and pi-aah. Goshawks eat prey where they happen to catch it, or carry smaller
NESTING Remarkably items to regular perches.
large, flat-topped heap of SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
sticks and greenery close Widespread except in Iceland and
to trunk of tall tree; 2–4 small BUZZARD Ireland, but mostly scarce. In well-
eggs;1 brood;March–June. head slower flight; wooded farmland and hills and
see p.136
FEEDING Hunts boldly in forest, typically in mature wood-
forest or clearings,catching land with tall conifers but plenty
birds from thrush size to shorter tail of space beneath trees. Few in
crows, gamebirds, and narrower more open country in winter.
tail
other birds or prey; also SPARROWHAWK 32; Seen in the UK
eats rabbits and squirrels. see p.138 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 48–61cm (19–24in) Wingspan 0.95–1.25m (3–4ft) Weight 500–1,350g (18–48oz)
Social Family groups Lifespan Up to 20 years Status Secure
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