Gray Goshawk Accipiter novaehollandiae Scientific name definitions

44–55 cm (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); male 238–470 g, female 530–990 g (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); wingspan 72–101 cm (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Large, powerful accipiter. Two colour morphs: grey and white ; grey morph is grey above and white below  with fine grey barring  on breast  and flanks, dark red eyes; white morph  is pure white with bright yellow or dark red eyes; cere  and legs  are bright yellow to orange-yellow in both morphs. Juveniles resemble adults of respective morphs; grey juvenile browner above and more coarsely barred with dark chevrons on breast and flanks than adult; juveniles of both morphs have brown eyes.

Commonly treated as conspecific with the highly variable A. hiogaster, which differs in having darker grey upperparts (2), rufous in underparts (3), streaking and barring in juvenile plumage (2), and somewhat smaller size (1). Has hybridized with A. fasciatus (2 Parrish, J. R., and C. M. White (1997). Comments on hybridization in raptors. Journal of Raptor Research 31(3):296–298. Close ). Monotypic.

N & E Australia and Tasmania.

Found in rain forest, open forest with tall trees, forest edge and adjacent open country, riparian gallery forest that traverses dry woodland. Occurs from sea-level to c. 1500 m. Nests  in forest, often near edge; in Queensland, prefers denser woodlands than sympatric A. fasciatus (3 Burton, A. M., and P. Olsen (2000). Niche partitioning by two sympatric goshawks in the Australian wet tropics: ranging behaviour. Emu 100(3):216–226. Close ). May use more open habitats outside the nesting season and occasionally wander into urban areas.

Resident; established pairs sedentary, juveniles dispersive.

Mostly birds and small mammals but also snakes, lizards, frogs, arthropods and rarely, carrion (4 Burton, A. M., and P. Olsen (1997). Niche partitioning by two sympatric goshawks in the Australian wet tropics: breeding-season diet. Wildlife Research 24(1):45–52. Close , 1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Takes prey up to size of short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) (5 Olsen, P. D., S. J. S. Debus, G. V. Czechura, and N. J. Mooney (1990). Comparative feeding ecology of the Grey Goshawk Accipiter novaehollandiae and Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus. The Australian Bird Watcher 13(6):178–192. Close ). Forages mainly by still hunting from concealed perch in tree canopy; also low, fast flight, quartering and soaring. Seizes prey on ground or perch by dive, stealthy glide or direct flying attack that may become short chase. Drags possums (Pseudocheirus spp.) from their dreys.

Call series of “yewik, yewik, yewik, yewik” or “kuwit, kuwit, kuwit kuwit” notes, lower-pitched in female  than in male  (6 Pizzey, G., and F. Knight (1997). Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Angus & Robertson and HarperCollins, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Close , 1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Nests from Sept–Feb in S Australia, May–Dec in N Australia. Solitary breeder. Platform  of sticks  lined with green leaves, 50–60 cm wide, 35 cm deep; placed up to 15 m above ground in canopy of live tree, often on fork near end of major branch; nest may be reused after successful attempt. Usually 2–3 eggs (1–5 (7 Olsen, P. D., and T. G. Marples (1993). Geographic variation in egg size, clutch size and date of laying of Australian raptors (Falconiformes and Strigiformes). Emu 93:167–179. Close ) ); mean size 48·0 mm × 37·7 mm (range 43·4–56·4 mm × 34·0–42·8 mm (7 Olsen, P. D., and T. G. Marples (1993). Geographic variation in egg size, clutch size and date of laying of Australian raptors (Falconiformes and Strigiformes). Emu 93:167–179. Close ) ); incubation 31–34 days; chicks  have white down  ; fledging c. 30–42 days; post-fledging dependence 38–43 days (8 Burton, A. M., R. A. Alford, and J. Young (1994). Reproductive parameters of the Grey Goshawk (Accipiter novaehollandiae) and Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus) at Abergowrie, northern Queensland, Australia. Journal of Zoology (London). 232:347–363, 525–538. Close ). Longevity 12 years in captivity. Success: 9 young fledged from 14 eggs; 94% of attempts successful, with failure usually related to tropical thunderstorms in Queensland.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). CITES II. No hard data on numbers or population trends, but global population thought to be fewer than 10,000 individuals (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Uncommon in S and NW Australia; formerly abundant in Tasmania but has declined due to clearing of forests, and large numbers still shot; current estimate of 70–110 pairs. Also subject to habitat loss in SE Australia . Human disturbance can lead to nest desertion, but species sometimes occurs in urban areas. Eggshell thickness not significantly reduced by DDT.