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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)

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Similar species

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description Brown Goshawks are small raptors. They have a grey head, brown neck and brown and white thinly barred front (breast, belly, vent). The upperwings are grey, the tail is barred grey. The underwing shows brown and white coverts, and grey and white barred flight feathers. The tips of the primaries are dark-grey. The underside of the tail is barred grey. The upper legs are covered with brown feathers. The bill is dark-grey, with a yellow base. The eyes, legs and feet are yellow. Female Brown Goshawks are much larger than males. Juvenile Brown Goshawks have a bold brown and white chevron pattern on breast and belly (first year), and later have a boldly barred front (second year). "Raptors" (or "birds of prey"), most prominently, but also some species of waders, show a pronounced "dimorphism", i.e. a difference between male and female birds - not just in the appearance of the plumage, but in other, important properties, such as size or strength. Here we explain why. Twitcher's tip The easiest way to distinguish between Collared Sparrowhawks and Brown Goshawks in flight is by the shape of their tail ends. Collared Sparrowhawks have squarish tails, whereas Brown Goshawks have rounded tail ends. At closer quarters, the Brown Goshawk's yellow cere and prominent "beetle-brow" vs. the Collared Sparrowhawk's grey cere and absence of a brow are the distinguishing features. Only those who get a very good view will be able to tell a Collared Sparrowhawk from a Brown Goshawk's by the former's longer middle toes...

Taxonomy, classification See Brown Goshawk at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Brown Goshawk is available HERE . The range of Brown Goshawks extends from central Java, Indonesia, in the West, via New Guinea, to the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia in the East. They are also found in large parts of Australia. There are two races of Brown Goshawks in Australia, which together populate basically all of the Australian continent, including Tasmania and smaller offshore islands. They are only rarely found in the great sandy deserts of WA and in the western part of QLD, towards the NT and SA border. Race "didimus", which is endemic to Australia, is found in the Kimberley, the Top End of the NT and all of Cape York peninsula, northward of a line connecting roughly Broome, WA, with Cairns, QLD. Farther South nominate race "fasciatus" is found. Brown Goshawks hunt in almost any kind of habitat where there are trees, including semi-arid and arid environments with sparse vegetation.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "fasciatus" An immature Brown Goshawk, race "fasciatus", appeared 20 km South of Narrabri in 2006. Since 2007 we occasionally see Brown Goshawks, race "fasciatus", at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri, NSW, and in other locations in the surrounding area, such as e.g. near Maules Creek, 20 km North of Coonabarabran and at Bingara, NSW. R. Plumtree reports spotting a Brown Goshawk, race "fasciatus", at Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, in April 2015 and a family with juveniles in December 2015. The species was seen again in the area in July 2016. M. Owen reports spotting regularly a pair of Brown Goshawks, race "fasciatus", at the Underwood Avenue Bushland in Shenton Park, Perth, WA. J. Greaves reports spotting a Brown Goshawk, race "fasciatus", at Cheynes Beach, Albany, WA, in February 2018. M. Eaton finds Brown Goshawks, race "fasciatus", occasionally in southern and south-eastern QLD, e.g. in St. George in August 2018. C. Pears reports spotting Brown Goshawks, race "fasciatus", at Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, in August 2022. Race "didimus" In August 2014 we also found a Brown Goshawk, race "didimus", on its nest at Fogg Dam CR, NT. J. Greaves reports spotting a Brown Goshawk, race "didimus", at the Broome Bird Observatory, Broome, WA, in April 2015. P. Brown reports finding Brown Goshawks, race "didimus", semi-regularly in and around Darwin, NT, and other areas of the Top End. In October 2018 a pair was found to be nesting in the Botanical Gardens, Darwin, NT. Another was spotted at Muirhead Water Race, NT, in August 2020. M. Eaton found Brown Goshawks, race "didimus", at Bamaga, near the tip of Cape York peninsula, QLD, in August 2019.

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]

Brown Goshawk seen "anting" (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Fannie Bay, Darwin, NT, November 2023]

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.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Wed, 29 November 2023, 1:29 +00:00