Red goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus
The red goshawk is one of
Queensland’s most threatened
raptors. It is an elusive species
that has a patchy distribution in
coastal and sub-coastal forest
and woodland across the north
of Australia and down the east
coast of Queensland to northern
New South Wales. Red goshawk
populations are under threat from
clearing and fragmentation of the
limited remaining suitable habitat.
Photo: David Baker-Gabb
Description
The red goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus, of the family Accipitridae, is endemic to northern
and eastern Australia. It is one of only two members of the genus Erythrotriorchis, the
other being the chestnut-shouldered goshawk E. buergersi that is found in New Guinea.
The body length of the male red goshawk from beak to tail tip is 45 to 51cm, with a weight
of around 0.64kg. Like many raptors, female red goshawks are much larger, with a body
length of 58 to 61cm and a weight of about 1.1kg. Their wingspan ranges from 110 to 135cm.
Red goshawks are solid-bodied birds with long, thick yellow legs and feet with a very
long middle toe and large talons. When perched, red goshawks have an upright stance,
with long broad wings reaching just short of the tail tip, a short spiky head crest and
high, broad shoulders. The back and upper wings are a rich rufous colour with a darker
bold scalloping pattern. Chest and undercarriage colouring in males and juveniles is a
light rufous with heavy dark vertical streaks on the head and throat. In females these
parts are much paler in colour. Adults have rufous plumage on the upper legs
(“trousers”) without markings. Tail feathers are grey to silver-white with seven or eight
dark narrow horizontal bars. Their tails are square in shape when closed and a rounded
shape when fanned during soaring. The bill is black, fading to grey at its base, and the
eyes are generally yellow to yellow-brown but can be brown to hazel in males. Juveniles
are distinguishable from adults by their rufous head and cream to pale grey legs.
In the field, red goshawks are often misidentified as other raptors, especially those that
have reddish plumage as adults or juveniles (for example the square-tailed kite
Lophoictinia isura, black-breasted buzzard Hamirostra melanosternon, little eagle
Hieraaetus morphnoides and brown falcon Falco berigora). The red goshawk can be
distinguished from these other raptors by their very large yellow legs and feet, long tail,
conspicuous dark barred primary feathers, secondary feathers and tail, and long wings
with six outer primary wing feathers (“fingers”) — other goshawks have shorter five-
fingered wings. In addition, wings are held at a slight dihedral angle when soaring and
flat to slightly bowed when gliding.
Habitat and distribution
Estimates of the red goshawk population vary. Although estimates suggest there could
be only 700 to 800 breeding pairs in Australia some researchers believe there could be
as few as 1000 birds. The population is difficult to estimate because the red goshawk
has a very sparse and discontinuous distribution over a wide area — from the Kimberley
in Western Australia across northern Australia, and down the east coast of Queensland
to northern New South Wales. It is estimated there are between 100 and 200 breeding
pairs in Queensland. Some researchers have suggested that the species is extinct in
New South Wales, although there is evidence that some pairs do remain along the
Queensland-New South Wales border.
Red goshawks occupy a range of habitats, often at ecotones, including coastal and
sub-coastal tall open forest, tropical savannahs crossed by wooded or forested
watercourses, woodlands, the edges of rainforest and gallery forests along
watercourses, and wetlands that include Melaleuca and Casuarina species.

Distinctive features of the red
goshawk are their large yellow
legs and feet, six prominent outer
primary wing feathers (“fingers”)
and horizontal bars across their
tail and flight feathers.
Female red goshawk – note the large yellow
legs and feet that are characteristic of the
species. Photo: John Augusteyn, EPA
Red goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus
Distribution of the red goshawk in Queensland. Map: EPA
Their habitat is generally a mosaic of vegetation types close to permanent water, and
containing a high diversity and abundance of birds and reptiles. In south-east
Queensland they appear to have a preference for rugged terrain, but whether this is
because these areas provide a diverse habitat or whether it is simply the only suitable
habitat left undeveloped is unknown. Red goshawks generally avoid very dense habitats
that reduce manoeuvrability, such as rainforest, and very open habitats or clearings that
reduce opportunities for stealth hunting. Although immature birds have been recorded
from mangroves, open river floodplains, low open woodland, agricultural land and
pasture, these habitats do not appear to be regularly used and these sightings may be
of dispersing juveniles.
The home range of the red goshawk is extremely large — estimates for five pairs in
south-east Queensland vary from 50 to 220sq.km. A Northern Territory telemetry study
estimate the home range for females at 120sq.km and males at 200sq.km.
Red goshawk population densities have declined across its range. Although their overall
distribution is similar to what it was at the time of European settlement it has contracted
in some areas, for example it has virtually disappeared from New South Wales and the
coastal lowlands of eastern Queensland.


Female red goshawks can take
prey up to twice their size.
Female red goshawk with prey.
Photo: John Augusteyn, EPA
The location of red goshawk
nests should be kept
confidential to protect them
from human interference.
Red goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus
Conservation status
The red goshawk is listed as endangered under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act
1992 and vulnerable under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999. It is also recognised internationally as vulnerable under the IUCN
Red List of Threatened Species.
Recovery plans and outlines that set out research and management actions to support
the recovery of the red goshawk include:
• a species recovery outline for the red goshawk in The action plan for Australian birds
2000 (Garnett and Crowley, 2000);
• a draft National recovery plan for the red goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus 2006-
2010 (in development September 2006); and
• the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service’s Approved recovery plan
for the red goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus) (www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/
pdfs/recoveryplan_final_red_goshawk.pdf).
Biology and ecology
The red goshawk is a sedentary and furtive bird of prey. Pairs appear to keep the same
territory and often reuse the same nest or nests from year to year, though the strength of
the bond between the male and female is unknown. The red goshawk hunts by stealth,
mostly at dawn and dusk, attacking prey either under or through the forest canopy. It
also searches and attacks from the air using a number of mid-air hunting methods,
including direct pursuit, as well as hunting from perches. Prey largely consists of
medium to large birds, although mammals, reptiles and large insects are also
consumed. The proportionately larger legs and feet are characteristic of a species that
kills large species relative to its size, and the long middle toe that helps it to catch and
grasp birds is indicative of a bird specialist predator. Female red goshawks have been
reported to take prey as large as the Australian brush-turkey Alectura lathami that can
be around 2.3kg in weight. There is no evidence that red goshawks eat carrion.
The breeding season of the red goshawk in the north of its range is from May to
November during the dry season, while in the cooler southern parts of its range the
breeding season is from around August to November. Red goshawks lay one or two
bluish-white, oval-shaped eggs that are around 5.5cm by 4.4cm in size. The male hunts
to provide food for the female while she incubates the eggs for 39 to 42 days. When the
chicks hatch, the male continues to feed the female and also provides food for the
female to feed the chicks. The female resumes hunting around the time the young
develop feathers. Usually only one young survives to fledge. Birds are fledged in seven
to eight weeks but are not independent for at least ten weeks. Some may remain
dependent on their parents until seven months of age.
Threats to the red goshawk
Habitat clearing is the major threat to the red goshawk, with significant areas of coastal
and sub-coastal forest cleared for urban development and farming, especially in riparian
forest where the bird often prefers to nest.
Human disturbance at the nest site may disturb breeding pairs and result in reduced
reproductive success. Other possible threats are the theft of eggs for egg collections and
the intentional killing of adults, both of which are criminal activities under the Nature
Conservation Act 1992.
Managing threats
Land clearing and vegetation management
Red goshawks are able to hunt and nest in native forests that have been selectively
harvested or thinned but they do not normally hunt in “open” forests that have had
substantial amounts of vegetation removed. Excessive vegetation removal or
deforestation should never take place in native forest where red goshawks occur as it
results in diminished habitat for nesting and hunting and also reduces prey abundance.
Controlled logging or thinning in forest areas can be conducted in a manner that will
reduce the impact on the red goshawk and biodiversity in general, for example a study
of goshawks in Europe showed that removing no more than 30 percent of the original
tree stand had little effect on populations (Penteriani and Faivre, 2001).


Identifying red goshawk nests
Red goshawk nests — note their position
on a horizontal limb at the outer edge of
the tree canopy. Photos: Greg Czechura
Constant human disturbance at
known nest sites can disrupt the
normal behaviour of the red
goshawk — creating buffer zones
can reduce interference.
Red goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus
Red goshawks can be difficult to sight and identify so locating their distinctive nests
can be another method of locating them. Nests measure approximately 100cm
across, 30 to 50cm high and are an arrangement of large sticks (up to 200cm) with
an untidy base and lower sides. The nest is lined with twigs and green leaves. Red
goshawk nests are flatter and untidier than other raptor nests, which tend to be
more cup-shaped.
Nests are usually built towards the outer edge of the canopy on a substantial live
horizontal limb and braced against a vertical branch on the limb. Favoured nest trees
are taller than 20m and species in the genera Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, Corymbia and,
less frequently, Angophora. Red goshawks commonly nest in the tallest and largest
tree in a stand of tall trees, often directly beside but always within 1km of a
permanent waterway or wetland.
Nests can be used in successive years although new nests may be built within 300m
of a previous nest. The red goshawk may also take over and build on the nest of
other bird species such as the Australian magpie Gymnorhina tibicen, Torresian crow
Corvus orru and brown falcon. Hunting territories can extend to several kilometres
away from the nest.
In areas that provide known habitat for the red goshawk, land managers should retain at
least 70 percent of the mature tree stand. Where possible the trees retained should be
Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, Corymbia or Angophora species greater than 20m in height,
ensuring a minimum of six evenly distributed large live trees and two recruitment trees
are retained per hectare, as well as any habitat trees or trees that have a raptor nest,
regardless of the species or whether it is in use.
Queensland’s forestry operations are controlled by the Environmental Protection
Agency’s (EPA) Code of practice for native forest timber production to ensure ecologically
sustainable forest management. For further information on timber harvesting on private
land there is a code of practice for land managers, the Code applying to a native forest
practice on freehold land — available at www.nrm.qld.gov.au/vegetation/pdf/forest_
practice/fpc_guide_v1_1.pdf or by contacting the Department of Natural Resources and
Water (NRW) on 1800 999 367.
All clearing of native vegetation in Queensland is regulated by the Vegetation
Management Act 1999 and in most cases requires a permit. Land managers should
contact NRW on (07) 3896 3111 or visit the website www.nrm.qld.gov.au for application
forms and information relevant for individual circumstances.
Using buffers to protect nest sites
A buffer is an area of land that provides a protective barrier from unwanted impacts in an
area beyond the buffer. Creating a buffer during the breeding season (May to November)
that excludes any disturbance, for example from forestry activities or visits by birdwatchers,
within at least a 200m radius of red goshawk nests will help to safeguard the nest and
reduce the probability of nest abandonment.


Illegal egg collectors may
repeatedly target the same red
goshawk nest.
Grazing and fire regimes
influence the food chain — this
can impact on the availability of
food for the red goshawk.
Female red goshawk — the rufous colouring
of the chest and undercarriage is darker in
males and juveniles. Photo: David Baker-Gabb
Red goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus
Managing nest disturbance
Red goshawk nest sites are strongly associated with watercourses so interference with
water flow or clearing around watercourses may impact on potential nesting habitat. For
this reason there should be no clearing of large trees around watercourses and minimal
clearing of other vegetation in known or potential habitat. The EPA has produced
wetland management profiles that can provide information on impacts and appropriate
management practices for wetlands, for example Coastal melaleuca swamp wetlands —
available at www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservation/habitats/wetlands.
Red goshawk nest locations are kept confidential by authorities to protect the nests
from illegal egg collection and prevent negative effects from curious birdwatchers or
photographers. The location of red goshawk nests should not be divulged to anyone
apart from the nominated Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) or Queensland
Museum contacts listed under the Increasing knowledge of distribution and population
section below.
Anyone interfering with wildlife (including their eggs) must carry an appropriate wildlife
permit, as well as have legal access granted by the landholder. Illegal or suspicious
activity occurring around nest sites should be reported to the QPWS hotline (telephone
number 1300 130 372).
Where red goshawks, their nests or potential habitat for the species exists, land
managers should consider ways to permanently protect their land from future
disturbance or clearing, for example under a nature refuge agreement.
Managing grazing and fire
Over-grazing or an inappropriate fire regime can severely diminish ground cover
components such as grass tussocks, leaf litter and logs that provide habitat for
invertebrates and small reptiles. This can influence the food chain, as it reduces the
availability of food for many smaller birds that are in turn the main prey of the red
goshawk. Fire can also threaten red goshawk nestlings.
When managing fire or grazing in known or potential red goshawk habitat, land managers
should aim have a balance between providing microhabitat necessary for invertebrates
and reptiles and not increasing fire fuel loads to a level that will increase the likelihood
or severity of a wildfire. Mosaic burning practices will help to reduce the impact of
wildfire, as well as maintain an open woodland structure, control weeds and increase
biodiversity by promoting plant germination, flowering and seeding of many species.
Prescribed burning should be avoided in any area where a red goshawk nest is in the
process of construction or contains eggs, sitting birds or nestlings. If the prescribed
burning is unavoidable, land managers should retain a protective buffer of at least 25m
around the nesting tree. Fallen vegetation or timber debris that may present a fire fuel
hazard to the nesting tree should be removed from around its base before conducting
any prescribed burning. The protective buffer can be reduced to 10 to 15m if the prescribed
burning occurs outside of the red goshawk breeding season (May to November).
Land managers should consult with their local council or rural fire brigade
(www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au) for further information about local requirements,
restrictions and responsibilities with respect to prescribed burns and fire management.
If you have known or potential habitat for the red goshawk, the QPWS may be able to
provide advice on appropriate grazing and fire regimes (telephone (07) 3227 8185 to
find the office closest to you or visit www.epa.qld.gov.au/about_the_epa/contact_us/).
Increasing knowledge of distribution and population
Since the red goshawk is an elusive species, details about its distribution and population
are limited. Knowledge of the location of red goshawks and their nests is crucial to
enable protection from disturbance, to monitor breeding success and learn more about
the species. Any definite sightings of red goshawks or their nests should be reported to
Dr David Stewart of QPWS (telephone (07) 3202 0227, email david.stewart@epa.qld.gov.au)
or the Queensland Museum (telephone (07) 3840 7642, email inquirycentre@qm.qld.gov.au).
Please do not report sightings of other species to these contact numbers.
Bird field guides, the internet and the red goshawk nest identification guide in this
profile provide information about raptors that will help you to accurately identify the red
goshawk. Note as many details as possible when sighting a raptor that may be a red
goshawk, such as its colour, markings, tail shape, wing pattern, leg colour, any calls
heard and the area in which it was sighted.

 Red goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus

Glossary
Accipitridae Bird of prey family that includes hawk, kite, eagle and harrier species.
Angophora Flora belonging to the genus Angophora, including rough-barked apple, rusty gum and smudgee. Angophora, Eucalyptus
and Corymbia are collectively known as “eucalypts”.
Carrion Decaying flesh of a dead animal.
Casuarina Flora belonging to the genus Casuarina, commonly known as she-oaks. Casuarinas have needle-like drooping foliage and
are principally found in semi-arid, tropical and sub-tropical areas, but can also be found in temperate zones.
Corymbia Flora belonging to the genus Corymbia, including range bloodwood, spotted gum and ghost gum. Angophora, Eucalyptus
and Corymbia are collectively known as “eucalypts”.
Deforestation Broadscale clearing of vegetation from land, often for agriculture, urban development or logging.
Dihedral The angle of two upward-sloping wings — no dihedral means the wings are horizontal.
Ecotones Transition zones between two or more ecosystems or vegetation communities, for example where woodland meets
open land.
Endemic Found only in one particular area.
Eucalyptus Flora belonging to the genus Eucalyptus, including red gum, coolibah, box, ironbark, stringybark and ash. Angophora,
Eucalyptus and Corymbia are collectively known as “eucalypts”.
Fledge When a young bird has developed feathers and is able to fly.
Habitat trees Trees that have at least one hollow over 10cm in diameter.
Invertebrates Animals without a backbone (for example insects, worms and snails).
IUCN Red List A list of globally threatened species assessed and maintained by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The list provides
taxonomic, conservation status and distribution information and highlights those species or groups of species that are facing a higher
risk of global extinction.
Known habitat An environment where a species normally lives or occurs, and where the species has been sighted.
Logging Cutting down trees for timber.
Melaleuca Flora belonging to the genus Melaleuca, including tea trees and paperbarks. Melaleucas are often found near watercourses
and in and around swamps.
Microhabitat A small area where an organism lives that has different conditions from other small surrounding areas, e.g. leaf litter, a
grass tussock or a tree stump.
Mosaic Grouping of many different pieces to make a whole; a patchwork-like pattern.
Mosaic burning Strategic burning of small areas with varying fire intensity over a period of time in a mosaic/patchwork pattern, giving a
random and varied pattern of burn frequency across a landscape.
Nature refuge Privately owned land protected in perpetuity by a conservation agreement between the landholder and the Queensland
Government and declared a nature refuge under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. Refer to www.epa.qld.gov.au/naturerefuges for
further information.
Potential habitat or potential nesting habitat An area that provides an environment comparable to where a species normally lives or
occurs, and where the species has not yet been sighted.
Primary feathers The long wing feathers furthest from the body. The red goshawk has 11 primaries, one of which is minute, with the
outer six spread out like “fingers” on the end of the wing to reduce drag.
Raptors Also known as birds of prey — carnivorous birds that hunt and kill other animals for food.
Recruitment trees Living trees representative of the larger tree species found in the area, left in place to grow and eventually replace
the larger trees, and also to provide seed and a diverse forest structure. For forestry purposes refer also to the Code of practice for
native forest timber production (EPA, 2002).
Riparian Relating to areas adjacent to creeks, rivers, lakes and wetlands, including banks and floodplains, which exert a direct
influence on the water and aquatic ecosystems.
Rufous Reddish-brown to dark orange colour.
Secondary feathers The long wing feathers between the primaries and the body. The red goshawk has ten secondaries.
Sedentary Remaining in one area.
Talons The sharp hooked claws of a raptor.


 Red goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus

Telemetry Automatic remote measurement and transmission of data by wire, radio or other means to a receiving station or operator.
For example, birds can be fitted with transmitters which send out signals that can be picked up by someone with a receiver who can
then determine the location of the bird.
Thinning The selective clearing of vegetation at a locality.

Information sources
Aumann, T. and Baker-Gabb, D.J. (1991a), A management plan for the red goshawk, Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union Report 75,
Australia.
Aumann, T. and Baker-Gabb, D.J. (1991b), The ecology and status of the red goshawk in northern Australia, Royal Australasian
Ornithologists Union Report 75, Australia.
Baker-Gabb, D.J. (2005), draft Recovery plan for the red goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus 2006–2010, Elanus Pty Ltd, Melbourne.
Barrett, G., Silcocks, A., Barry, S., Cunningham R. and Poulter, R. (2003), The New Atlas of Australian Birds, Birds Australia.
Blakers, M., Davies, S.J.J.F. and Reilly, P.N. (1984), “Red goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus”, in The atlas of Australian birds, Royal
Australasian Ornithologists Union and Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, page 100.
Czechura, G.V. (1996), Status and distribution of the red goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus in southern Queensland, report to the
Queensland Department of Environment, Department of Environment, Brisbane.
Debus, S.J.S. and Czechura, G.V. (1988), “The red goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus: a review”, Aust. Bird Watcher 12:175–99.
Debus, S.J.S., McAllan, I.A.W. and Mead, D.A. (1993), “Museum specimens of the red goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus II. Morphology,
biology and conservation status in Eastern Australia”, Sunbird 23(3):75–89.
Garnett, S.T. (1992), “Red goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus”, in S. Garnett (ed.) Threatened and extinct birds of Australia, Royal
Australasian Ornithologists Union/Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Canberra, pp 33–5.
Garnett, S.T. and Crowley, G.M. (2000), The action plan for Australian birds, Environment Australia, Canberra, www.deh.gov.au/
biodiversity/threatened/action/birds2000/index.html.
IUCN (2006), 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, www.iucnredlist.org, 9 August 2006.
Lamb, D., Loyn, R., Smith, A. and Wilkinson, G. (1998), Managing habitat trees in Queensland forests, report by the Habitat Tree
Technical Advisory Group to the Queensland Department of Natural Resources, Forest Resources, Brisbane.
Marchant, S. and Higgins, P.J. (eds.) (1993), Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds, volume 2: raptors to lapwings,
Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (undated), Red goshawk nest
identification guide, information brochure, New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service and Queensland Parks and
Wildlife Service.
Olsen, P. and Marples, T.G. (1993), “Geographic variation in egg size, clutch size and date of laying of Australian raptors (Falconiformes
and Strigiformes)”, EMU 93:167–79.
Penteriani, V. and Faivre, B. (2001), “Effects of harvesting timber stands on goshawk nesting in two European areas”, Biological
Conservation 101:211–216.
Queensland Environmental Protection Agency (2002), Code of practice for native forest timber production, Environmental Protection
Agency, Brisbane, www.epa.qld.gov.au/publications?id=69.
Reader’s Digest (1993), “Red goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus”, in Reader’s digest complete book of Australian birds, second ed., first
revise, Reader’s Digest, Sydney, p. 127.
00129-0607_Nov06

Primary author: S. Ryan, Queensland EPA Contact officer: Senior Conservation Officer,
Completion date: November 2006 Ecosystem Conservation Branch,
Reviewed: D. Stewart, G. Czechura, A. Borsboom Conservation Services Division,
Published: Ecosystem Conservation Branch, EPA, ecosystem.conservation@epa.qld.gov.au
November 2006