Brown Goshawk
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Brown Goshawk | ||||||||||||||
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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.
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[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