Meyer's goshawk is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is found in the Moluccas, New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. This species was formerly placed in the genus Accipiter.
Region
Melanesia and eastern Indonesia
Typical Environment
Occurs in the Moluccas (Maluku), across New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, and the Solomon Islands. It occupies primary and secondary lowland rainforests as well as lower montane forests, often near forest edges, rivers, and clearings. The species forages under the canopy and along forest margins, occasionally entering plantations or gardens adjacent to forest. It is generally sedentary and territorial within its forest home range.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2400 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Meyer's goshawk is a powerful forest raptor that hunts stealthily from perches and along edges within dense tropical forests. It shows marked size dimorphism, with females notably larger than males, typical of many Accipiter hawks. Its taxonomy has been debated, but it is commonly treated within Accipiter; it ranges widely across New Guinea and nearby archipelagos.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief glides under canopy
Social Behavior
Typically seen alone or in pairs, maintaining territories within suitable forest. Breeding is monogamous; nests are placed high in tall trees, and the clutch is small. Adults are attentive, with the female brooding while the male provides much of the prey during early nesting.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include sharp, repeated kek-kek notes and higher-pitched whistles, often given from cover. Calls intensify near the nest and during territorial interactions.
Plumage
Adult typically slate-grey to dark grey above with finely barred grey-and-white underparts; tail with bold dark bands and a pale tip. Juveniles are browner above with streaked to blotched buffy underparts. The plumage is sleek with a long tail and rounded wings suited to maneuvering through forest.
Diet
Feeds primarily on small to medium-sized birds, but also takes small mammals, reptiles, and large insects. Hunts from concealed perches, launching swift ambushes through the understory. Will pursue prey along edges and across small clearings, relying on speed and agility.
Preferred Environment
Forages within dense lowland and lower montane forest, especially along edges, river corridors, and canopy gaps. Occasionally hunts in adjacent secondary growth or plantations near intact forest.
