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6

Brown Goshawk

(Accipiter fasciatus)
Alternate name(s): "Australian Goshawk", "Chicken-hawk*"
Aboriginal name(s): Race "fasciatus": "biju" [ngadjon]; "djildjil", "matwelitj", "koodjilarn" (WA)

Size: 40-50 cm; wing span 75-95 cm
Weight: Race "fasciatus": 250-420 g (male), 460-740 g (female)
Race "didimus": 200-270 g (male), 310-390 g (female)

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Brown Goshawk at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "fasciatus"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of an adult male Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Swifts Creek East Road, Doctors Flat, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2016]

Near-frontal view of an adult Brown Goshawk; the prominent yellow cere and grey "beetle-brow", as well as the rounded tip of the tail, indicate that this is a Brown Goshawk, not a Collared Sparrowhawk; the bird's size indicates that this is probably a male (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Swifts Creek East Road, Doctors Flat, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2016]

Lateral view of an adult male Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Swifts Creek East Road, Doctors Flat, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2016]

Dorsal view of a Brown Goshawk
[Near Maules Creek, NSW, January 2014]

FEMALE

Dorsal view of a female Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of M. Owen)
[Underwood Avenue Bushland, Shenton Park, Perth, WA, July 2016]

Female Brown Goshawk in flight; this bird caused a commotion in a eucalypt tree, close to nests of several other species
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2011]

Brown Goshawk(?) in flight; the identification is made based on the length and relatively dark colour of the tail (as compared to the rest of the bird's body)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2010]

In this photo the colours are inferior, but the long tail with its rounded tip (which distinguishes the species from the similar Collared Sparrowhawk) is clearly visible
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2010]

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. George, QLD, August 2018]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Brown Goshawk moulting into its second plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Frontal view of a first-year female Brown Goshawk checking out an ornamental pond; note the prominent "eyebrows"
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2018]

The immature Brown Goshawk decided to take a rest at our ornamental pond
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]

With several Pied Currawongs around it, the immature Brown Goshawk was careful, but after a few moments it settled into a more comfortable position...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]

... before deciding to test the waters - yikes, that pool is not heated!
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]

But one can get used to it
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]

Done! Here a lateral view of the same immature Brown Goshawk
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]

Lateral view of a first-year Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a first-year Brown Goshawk with its prey (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Dorsal view of a first-year Brown Goshawk with its prey (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Juvenile (first-year) Brown Goshawk in flight
[Near Narrabri, NSW, January 2017]

Lateral view of a juvenile Brown Goshawk in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, May 2016]

Juvenile (first-year) Brown Goshawk in flight
[Near Narrabri, NSW, January 2017]

Near-frontal view of one of two juvenile Brown Goshawks that have recently fledged; note its bulging crop, indicating that it has had a good feed (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Doctors Flat Road, Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2015]

Near-dorsal view of the same juvenile as shown above (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Doctors Flat Road, Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2015]

Frontal view of an adult Brown Goshawks delivering food to one of the juveniles shown above (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Doctors Flat Road, Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2015]

Ventral view of a juvenile Brown Goshawk in flight (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Doctors Flat Road, Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2015]

PAIR

Lateral/ventral view of a pair of Brown Goshawks in flight; male at upper right (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, August 2022]

Race "didimus"

ADULT

MALE

Close-up frontal view of a Brown Goshawk; given the bird's size compared to its prey, a locust, this is probably a male
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Botanical Gardens, Darwin, NT, July 2019]

Lateral view of an adult (probably male) Brown Goshawk; this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 17 August 2014
[Fogg Dam CR, NT, August 2014]

Near-dorsal view of a male(?) Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Nakara, Darwin, NT, July 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a male(?) Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Nakara, Darwin, NT, July 2019]

Dorsal view of a male(?) Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Nakara, Darwin, NT, July 2019]

FEMALE

Pair of Brown Goshawks seen from beneath in courtship flight; the female is much larger than the male
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Tiwi, NT, August 2014]

PAIR

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a pair of Brown Goshawks, with the male on the right and the much bigger female on the left
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, August 2018]

Ventral view of an odd pair of Brown Goshawks in flight, with the female, left, still in juvenile plumage; note that Brown Goshawks in juvenile plumage can already be of breeding age (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, April 2021]

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, September 2018]

Frontal view of a Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, September 2018]

Near-frontal view of a resting Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, August 2018]

Near-lateral view of a Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, September 2018]

Near-lateral view of a Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, September 2018]

Dorsal view of a Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bamaga, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a Brown Goshawk in flight (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Goorrandalng Campground, Keep River NP, NT, September 2020]

Direct comparison between a Brown Goshawk in flight, upper right, and a Brown Falcon (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Tumbling Waters, near Darwin, NT, August 2020]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, February 2018]

Frontal view of a juvenile Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, February 2018]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bamaga, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Muirhead Water Race, NT, August 2020]

Lateral view of a juvenile Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, May 2018]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Brown Goshawk looking back at the observer
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Muirhead Water Race, NT, August 2020]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Brown Goshawk (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bamaga, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Apr - Nov Eggs: 2 - 4 Incubation period: ? Fledging age: ?

 

The breeding season depends on geographic latitude. Given the right conditions Brown Goshawks can breed at any time of the year.

Twitcher's tip

Note that, by the time they fledge (i.e., leave their nest), the young of all species of raptors - apart from the tail and wing feathers (which are still growing) - are already full adult-size.

For species of raptors with a pronounced size dimorphism between the sexes (the female is always bigger than the male), the obvious consequence is that a female near-fledging age chick already dwarfs not only any male siblings, but also its father.

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket Material: Sticks, green eucalypt leaves Height above ground: 10 - 25 m

 

Frontal view of a juvenile Brown Goshawk in its nest (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Buffalo Creek, Darwin, NT, October 2020]

Lateral view of a juvenile Brown Goshawk in its nest (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Buffalo Creek, Darwin, NT, October 2020]

Single Brown Goshawk chick in its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Broadwater, near Dalby, QLD, January 2018]

Brown Goshawk feeding its 3 young, fluffy chicks in the nest (photo courtesy of M. Fleming)
[Near Coonabarabran, NSW, December 2021]

Brown Goshawk nest in a live eucalypt (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Doctors Flat Road, Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2015]

Brown Goshawk nest in a live eucalypt tree
[Fogg Dam CR, NT, August 2014]

Brown Goshawk nest high up in a tree; note the pitched-up tail and the wings covering the nest, probably shading the chicks (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Botanical Gardens, Darwin, NT, October 2018]

The same Brown Goshawk nest as shown above, now with an adult bird, a near-fledging age chick in juvenile plumage and a second chick still in downy feathers can be seen (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Botanical Gardens, Darwin, NT, November 2018]

The same Brown Goshawk nest as shown above, now with the adult bird disposing of what looks like a fur ball
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Botanical Gardens, Darwin, NT, November 2018]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 45 x 36 mm Colour: Creamy, with sparse mid-brown speckles Shape: Tapered oval

 

Brown Goshawk nest with 3 eggs in it (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Coonamble/Coonabarabran area, NSW, 1980ies]

Closer look at the 3 eggs in a Brown Goshawk nest (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Coonamble/Coonabarabran area, NSW, 1980ies]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive Elementary unit: Solitary

Pair of Brown Goshawks seen from beneath in courtship flight; the female is much larger than the male
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Tiwi, NT, August 2014]

Food, Diet

Adults: Small mammals, birds Dependents: As adults Water intake: None

All raptors are carnivores. Brown Goshawks prey on small mammals and other bird species. Together with Australian Hobbies and Peregrine Falcons Brown Goshawks are the predators feared most by other birds. We have also seen a Brown Goshawk take a 1-m long snake.

During the first few weeks, raptors feed their chicks with pieces of meat. Later on in their development, the chicks learn to tear apart their parents' prey.

Brown Goshawk with a lizard snack (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, July 2021]

The bird's size indicates that this raptor is a female Brown Goshawk; it has caught a Magpie-lark, upsetting the avian neighbourhood considerably in the process; an Australian Magpie and a Magpie-lark are in hot pursuit, while a clan of Noisy Miners and a pair of Willie Wagtails were also in on the action
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]

Near-frontal view of an adult Brown Goshawk with its prey - in this case a feral Common Myna
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2014]

Female Brown Goshawk escaping with its catch (a nestling?)
[Near Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

First-year Brown Goshawk with its well-gnawed prey - probably a Dusky Moorhen; by its size, bulk and also the size of its prey this bird is likely a female (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Brown Goshawk devouring a Crested Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[Gilgandra, NSW, August 2020]

Brown Goshawk looking for naked flesh.... (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, July 2018]

This Brown Goshawk was seen approaching a waterhole, but it left again without drinking water
[Near Narrabri, NSW, February 2015]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

brgosh_20141231_3.mp3 fasciatus
(NW NSW)
Contact call(?), female © MD
brgosh_20141231.mp3 fasciatus
(NW NSW)
Contact calls(?), female © MD
brgosh_20191008.m4a fasciatus
(NW NSW)
Distress calls (swooped by Pied Currawong and Australian Magpie) © MD
brgosh_20211202.m4a fasciatus
(NW NSW)
Distress calls (swooped by Magpie-lark and Willie Wagtail) © MD
brgosh_20210402_1.m4a fasciatus
(NW NSW)
Annoyed (juvenile female) © MD
brgosh_20210317.m4a fasciatus
(NW NSW)
? (female) © MD
brgosh_20210404.m4a fasciatus
(NW NSW)
? (juvenile female) © MD
brgosh_20210412.m4a fasciatus
(NW NSW)
? (juvenile female) © MD
 
brgosh_20140817.m4a didimus
(Top End, NT)
Adult + begging calls © MD
brgosh_20140817_2.m4a didimus
(Top End, NT)
Fledgling begging calls © MD
brgosh_20140817_3.m4a didimus
(Top End, NT)
Fledgling begging calls © MD

More Brown Goshawk sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.