Red Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus)

[order] ACCIPITRIFORMES | [family] Accipitridae | [latin] Erythrotriorchis radiatus | [authority] Latham, 1801 | [UK] Red Goshawk | [FR] Autour rouge | [DE] Fuchshabicht | [ES] Azor rojo | [NL] Rosse Havik

Subspecies

Genus

Physical charateristics

The crown and nape of the adult are, heavily streaked with black. The back, scapulars and upper-wing coverts have black centres and broad rufous or chestnut edges, producing a general red appearance above. The tail quills are grey-brown, with eight or nine dark brown bars. The chin and throat are white, greyer on the sides of the face, merging into a rufous breast. The under side, including under-wing coverts, are rufous to chestnut, streaked with black. The thighs and under-tail coverts are plain rufous, often paler. Primary and secondary flight feathers are grey, broadly tipped with dark brown, obscurely mottled brown and barred darker brown on inner webs. The eyes are brown to yellow, the feet greenish yellow, and the cere slaty. Females are paler below than males, and much larger. Immatures are browner and paler above than the adult, paler rufous below, with heavier black streaks. The eyes are yellowish brown, the cere dull blue, and the feet bright yellow. The general rufous colour of this species, with its long bright yellow legs and black streaks below, is distinctive. In build it is somewhere between a goshawk and a buzzard. It could scarcely be confused with anything else.

Range

Australasia : North, East Australia. Historically, it ranged in northern and eastern Australia, north of c.33 degrees S in the east, and 19 degrees S in the west, but its range has contracted from south of 28 degrees S in the east, and it is now virtually extinct in New South Wales. Recent surveys suggest breeding is continuous across northern Australia. The population was estimated at only 330 pairs, but it is now known to be particularly common on Melville and Bathurst Islands, and there have also been several reliable reports from central Australia, greatly extending its known distribution to the south. The population is thought to be stable.

Habitat

It lives in coastal and subcoastal, tall, open forests and woodlands, tropical savannas traversed by wooded or forested rivers and along the edges of rainforest.

Reproduction

A large nest of sticks is made, high in a tree. It is sometimes built by the birds themselves, but they also use the foundation of another bird’s nest and add to it. The male feeds the female during nest-building, which is apparently done by the female alone, and takes more than three weeks. One or two eggs are laid – broad ovals, bluish white and glossless, unmarked or with a few smears or markings of brown. Laying dates are August and September.

Feeding habits

The Red Goshawk subsists on a diet composed mainly of birds, very often water birds such as ducks or small herons, but also cockatoos and pigeons. Lizards, dead fish and nestlings of other birds are also taken on occasion. Most of the prey is taken on the ground, but it is fast enough to catch birds in flight as well.

Video Red Goshawk

copyright: Martin Kennewell

Conservation

This species is listed as Vulnerable because it has a very small population size.
Widespread clearance for agriculture probably caused the historical decline in north-eastern New South Wales. Continuing clearance may be affecting more northerly populations. Even if riparian strips are left uncleared, pairs usually nest in the tallest trees that are then exposed to storm damage and other disturbance. Egg-collecting may result in the failure of some nests as does burning of nest trees or disruption of breeding by fire. Shooting by pigeon and poultry owners and pesticides.

Migration

Poorly known. Breeding adults sedentary, though may expand home range in non-breeding season; regularly ranges 8-10 km from nest. Juveniles apparently dispersive, as inferred from sightings up to 500 km from known breeding sites.

Distribution map