The Eurasian goshawk is a species of medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, a family which also includes other extant diurnal raptors, such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. It was formerly placed in the genus Accipiter. It is a widespread species that inhabits many of the temperate parts of Eurasia. Except in a small portion of southern Asia, it is the only species of "goshawk" in its range and it is thus often referred to, both officially and unofficially, as simply goshawk. It is mainly resident, but birds from colder regions migrate south for the winter. As of 2023, goshawks found in North America are no longer considered to be conspecific, but are now designated as the American goshawk.
Region
Europe and temperate Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs across the Palearctic from the British Isles and Iberia through most of Europe to Siberia, the Russian Far East, Korea, and Japan, with southern populations in Turkey, the Caucasus, northern Iran, and the Himalayan foothills. Prefers extensive mature coniferous, mixed, and deciduous forests with clearings and edges. Also uses wooded river valleys, forest-steppe, and increasingly large parks and peri-urban woodlands. Northern birds may winter farther south, while many central and western populations are year-round residents.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 3000 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Eurasian goshawk is a powerful forest hawk famed in traditional falconry for its explosive acceleration and agility among trees. Females are notably larger than males, a common raptor trait called reversed sexual dimorphism. It was long treated as conspecific with North American birds, now split as the American goshawk. Persecution historically reduced numbers, but many populations have rebounded and some birds now exploit urban and suburban woodlands.
Typical adult with a strong brownish-grey cast, from the nominate subspecies, A. g. gentilis
A captive specimen of whitish large goshawk of Siberian origin, possibly part of A. g. albidus.
Juvenile in flight, the most likely age and condition to mistake a goshawk for another species
Adult goshawks maintain territories with display flights.
Goshawks are particularly agile hunters of the woodlands.
A juvenile goshawk beginning to pluck its prey, a likely feral pigeon
Eurasian goshawks most often prey on birds
Adult on Corsica with its fresh prey, a common wood pigeon
Hawk and Black-Game (Bruno Liljefors, 1884), a painting of a goshawk at the moment of catching a black grouse
Goshawks sometimes become habitual fowl killers. This juvenile was caught pursuing chickens inside a hen house.
Illustrating a goshawk attempting to catch a rabbit, by G. E. Lodge
Juvenile in Japan with a young bird prey item
A goshawk preying on a brown rat in a fairly urban area of Moscow.
Egg Collection Museum Wiesbaden
Nests are usually large structures placed quite high near the canopy on mature, tall trees, as seen on this birch in Norway
Nestling northern goshawks in Germany
Goshawks may be killed by collisions with man-made objects
Juvenile goshawk from Poland
Falconer's bird in Scotland
Iranian falconer with a trained goshawk
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief glides; powerful, agile flier through woodland
Social Behavior
Typically monogamous, pairs defend large forest territories and reuse or refurbish large stick nests in tall trees. Courtship includes sky-dancing and mutual calling. Clutches usually contain 2–4 eggs, and the female broods while the male provides food early in the season.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Mostly quiet when hunting, but near the nest emits loud, rapid kek-kek-kek alarm calls. Courtship calls are higher-pitched yapping notes; juveniles beg with insistent, drawn-out calls.
