female

female fem underwing European distribution flying

Identification

The Goshawk is best described as a great big Sparrowhawk although some male Goshawks may be only slightly bigger than their female relatives. Such birds have to be identified with care: their relatively longer wings seem to be more 'stretched out' and their tail is relatively shorter, broader and more rounded at the tip. Their typical flap-flap-glide flight is smoother and more effortless than in a Sparrowhawk.

Habitat

Breeds in upland and lowland mature broadleaved and coniferous woodlands. Winters near woodland and in more open country.

Behaviour

They have a spectacular springtime display flight, in which they strut over the woods with slow, stiff wing-beats or 'do the bumps' as if on an aerial rollercoaster. This usually finishes with a long steep dive into the breeding woods.

Migration

Adults are mainly resident with some juveniles moving southwards during October.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Goshawk is classed as Local: generally fairly regular or common species that a 'county lister' or a birding beginner might be interested in going to see. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Penllergaer Forest, Glamorgan 09/01/2010	Penllergaer Forest, Glamorgan 09/01/2010	undisc. site, Powys 12/11/2009	East Walton, Norfolk 20/09/2009	Wykeham Forest, N Yorks 09/08/2009
Wykeham Forest, N Yorks 09/08/2009	Wykeham Forest, N Yorks 09/08/2009	Wykeham Forest, N Yorks 09/08/2009	Ürzig, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany 01/05/2009	New Forest, Hants 03/06/2009

 View all pictures of Goshawk

Goshawk breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Britain
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Moldova
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob2670.htm   BTO BirdFacts: Goshawk	Edit this link
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	Forestry Commission: Goshawks on the flight path for launch of Kielder wildlife season!	Wednesday 11th March 2009
	If you're in the north of England, this could be the perfect chance to catch up with an elusive bird.   read on
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	Wildlife persecution has taken a sickening new twist, according to the RSPB.   read on
	RSPB Fears Increase in Wild Bird Crimes if Government Scraps Bird Registration Scheme	Thursday 15th February 2007
	The withdrawal of a scheme requiring bird keepers to register threatened bird species held in captivity could lead to an increase in the number of birds plundered from the wild, believes the RSPB.   read on

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