Brown Goshawk

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Brown Goshawk

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Falconiformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Accipiter
Species:	A. fasciatus

Binomial name

Accipiter fasciatus
(Vigors & Horsfield, 1827)

The Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus) is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae found in Australia and surrounding islands.

1 Identification
2 Range
3 Habitat
4 Food
5 Nesting
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Identification

Upperparts grey with chestnut collar; underparts mainly rufous, finely barred with white. Similar colouring to Collared Sparrowhawk but larger. Fast flexible flight. Body length 40-55 cm, wingspan 75-95 cm. Weights of adults: male 220 g, female 355 g. Females are noticeably larger.

[edit] Range

The Brown Goshawk is widespread through Australia, Tasmania, Wallacea, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji.

[edit] Habitat

Forests and woodlands.

[edit] Food

Mainly birds; also small mammals, reptiles, amphibians; occasionally insects.

[edit] Nesting

Nests in tall trees on a platform of sticks and twigs lined with green leaves. Clutch size usually 3, sometimes 2 or 4. Incubation period is about 30 days, with chicks fledging about 31 days after hatching.

[edit] References

BirdLife International. (2006). Species factsheet: Accipiter fasciatus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/12/2006
Marchant, S.; & Higgins, P.J. (Eds). (1993). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Vol,2: Raptors to Lapwings. Oxford University Press: Melbourne. ISBN 0-19-553069-1