The red goshawk is a bird of prey found in Australia. It is found mainly in the savanna woodlands of northern Australia, particularly near watercourses. It takes a broad range of live prey, mostly birds.
Region
Northern and eastern Australia
Typical Environment
Most frequently found in tropical savanna woodlands, open eucalypt forests, and along riverine corridors with tall emergent trees. It favors edges of monsoon forest, gallery forest, and mangrove margins where prey is abundant. Breeding territories are centered on large waterways and floodplains with scattered tall trees. It historically occurred from the Kimberley across the Top End to Cape York and south along the east coast, but is now patchier and sparse in many former locales.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 600 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The red goshawk is one of Australia’s rarest and most powerful raptors, relying on extensive tracts of intact riparian and open forest habitats. It nests high in tall trees near watercourses and is highly sensitive to the loss of mature nest trees. Habitat clearing, altered fire regimes, and disturbance near nests are key threats. Protection of large riverine corridors is crucial for its recovery.
Red goshawk, Cape York Peninsula, Queensland
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
powerful flier and soaring glider
Social Behavior
Typically occurs singly or in pairs that maintain large territories. Pairs build large stick nests high in tall trees near rivers or wetlands; clutch size is usually one to two eggs. The female does most incubation while the male provides prey, and both adults vigorously defend the nest.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Usually quiet away from nests, but near breeding sites gives ringing, high-pitched screams and kek-kek alarm calls. Display and contact calls are sharp and far-carrying, especially at dawn and around the nest.
Plumage
Rufous to chestnut underparts heavily streaked with dark blotches, with darker brown upperparts and a broadly banded tail. Flight feathers are darker, giving a contrasting, long-fingered wing profile in flight. The throat is pale to whitish with fine streaking, and the face shows a slight pale eyebrow.
Diet
Prey is dominated by medium-sized birds such as pigeons, parrots, kookaburras, and waterbirds. It also takes small mammals and reptiles on occasion. Hunts by perch-and-ambush from concealed positions, launching rapid surprise attacks, and will pursue prey powerfully through and above the canopy. Often plucks prey on a high perch near the capture site.
Preferred Environment
Hunts along watercourses, forest edges, and over open woodland and floodplains where bird activity concentrates. Frequently patrols riparian corridors, wetlands, and mangrove margins with scattered tall trees that provide cover and vantage points.
