Meet the Animals
Goshawk
Where & when to see them
- As a resident the goshawk can be seen all year round. Mainly to be found in central and southern England, all of Wales and southern Scotland.
- Watch out for them in woodlands and forests with open spaces and some open countryside.
More about this species
- Hawk and Owl Trust
- Scottish Raptor Group
- BTO
- Bird Guides
- The Telegraph: Thriving goshawks
- RSPB: Live goshawk video
What does the elusive goshawk get up to in the forests of Wales? Simon King investigates...
Missed something? Keep up to date with the goshawk story here.
Species information
Similar in characteristics to the smaller sparrowhawk, the goshawk has brown plumage and a white bared underside. On closer inspection you can make out a pale stripe over rather fierce looking red eyes. Female goshawks are much larger than the males.
It's a lover of wooded areas and forests. Here broad wings and a long tail give the goshawk fantastic manoeuvrability through trees and clearings in the high speed pursuit of prey. Pigeons, crows, thrushes pheasants and even rabbits and squirrels better be on the look out. All can be caught in the goshawks powerful talons.
It's not easy to spot. So maximise your chances by trying in late winter and early spring when its 'sky-dance' courtship displays are a wildlife spectacular.
How to help
If you see an injured goshawk then please contact Raptor Rescue.
Join your local RSPB group to find out more about the goshawk. You can also help the BTO record bird distribution throughout the UK with BirdTrack.
Latest Updates
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Friday 12th June
From fluffy chicks to being ready to fly the nest, see the transformation for yourself.
Tuesday 2nd June
Here is a rare view of our male goshawk, a great provider for the family and such a magnificent bird.
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Wednesday 27th May
Simon, with the aid of a counter, explains why one of the goshawk chicks is bigger than the other.
The enhanced version of the site requires the Flash 8 plugin (or higher) to be installed and JavaScript to be enabled on your browser. To find out how to install a Flash plugin, go to the WebWise Flash install guide.
Monday 25th May
Simon and his expert team show us how to rig a camera on a goshawk nest. Just look at the footage they got.
Key links
-
Countryside Council for Wales
Sustaining natural beauty and wildlife for Wales. -
Hawk and Owl Trust
Dedicated to conserving owls and other birds of prey in the wild.
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