An immature Brown Goshawk flying in Tasmania, Australia

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

Description

Its upperparts are grey with a chestnut collar; its underparts are mainly rufous, finely barred with white. Thus it has similar colouring to the Collared Sparrowhawk but is larger. The flight is fast and flexible. The body length is 40"?55 cm; the wingspan, 75"?95 cm. Adult males weigh 220 g, and adult females, 355 g. Females are noticeably larger.

Distribution and habitat

The Brown Goshawk is widespread through Australia, Tasmania, Wallacea, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji. It is found in forests and woodlands.

Feeding

It eats mainly birds; also small mammals, reptiles, amphibians; occasionally insects.

Breeding

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