grey goshawk

The grey goshawk was formally described in 1788 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it with the eagles, hawks and relatives in the genus Falco and coined the binomial name Falco novaehollandiae.{{ cite book | last=Gmelin | first=Johann Friedrich | author-link=Johann Friedrich Gmelin| year=1788 | title=Systema naturae per regna tria naturae : secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis | edition=13th | volume=1, Part 1 | language=Latin | location=Lipsiae [Leipzig] | publisher=Georg. Emanuel. Beer | page=264 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2896864 }} Gmelin based his description on the "New Holland white eagle" that had been described in 1781 by the English ornithologist John Latham. Latham in turn had based his short description on information provided by Johann Forster who had accompanied James Cook on his second voyage to the Pacific Ocean.{{ cite book | last=Latham | first=John | author-link=John Latham (ornithologist) | year=1785 | title=A General Synopsis of Birds | volume=3, Part 1 | publisher=Printed for Leigh and Sotheby | location=London | page=435 | url=http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33730507 }} Two specimens had been collected in March 1773 at Adventure Bay in Tasmania.{{ cite journal | last=Stresemann | first=Erwin | author-link=Erwin Stresemann | date=1950 | title=Birds collected during Capt. James Cook's last expedition (1776-1780) | journal=Auk | volume=67 | issue=1 | pages=66-88 [70] | jstor=4080770 |url=https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/auk/v067n01/p0066-p0088.pdf }}

The grey goshawk was formerly placed in the genus Accipiter. In 2024 a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study of the Accipitridae confirmed earlier work that had shown that the genus was polyphyletic.{{Cite journal | last1=Catanach | first1=T.A. | last2=Halley | first2=M.R. | last3=Pirro | first3=S. | date=2024 | title=Enigmas no longer: using ultraconserved elements to place several unusual hawk taxa and address the non-monophyly of the genus Accipiter (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) | journal=Biological Journal of the Linnean Society | pages=blae028 | doi=10.1093/biolinnean/blae028}}{{Cite book | last1=Mindell | first1=D. | last2=Fuchs | first2=J. | last3=Johnson | first3=J. | date=2018 | chapter=Phylogeny, taxonomy, and geographic diversity of diurnal raptors: Falconiformes, Accipitriformes, and Cathartiformes | editor1-last=Sarasola | editor1-first=J.H. | editor2-last=Grange | editor2-first=J.M. | editor3-last=Negro | editor3-first=J.J. | title=Birds of Prey: Biology and conservation in the XXI century | location=Cham, Switzerland | publisher=Springer | isbn=978-3-319-73744-7 | pages=3-32 | url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326086278 }} To resolve the non-monophyly, Accipiter was divided into six genera. The genus Tachyspiza was resurrected to accommodate the grey goshawk together with 26 other species that had previously been placed in Accipiter. The resurrected genus had been introduced in 1844 by the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup.{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela C. Rasmussen | date=August 2024 | title=Hoatzin, New World vultures, Secretarybird, raptors | work=IOC World Bird List Version 14.2 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/raptors/| publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=21 August 2024 }} The genus name combines the Ancient Greek ταχυς (takhus) meaning "fast" with σπιζιας (spizias) meaning "hawk".{{ cite web | last=Jobling | first=James A. | title=Tachyspiza | work=The Key to Scientific Names | url=https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/key-to-scientific-names/search?q=Tachyspiza | publisher=Cornell Lab of Ornithology | access-date=25 August 2024 }} The specific epithet novaehollandiae is Modern Latin for "New Holland", the name given to western Australia by early Dutch explorers. In ornithology the name is used for eastern Australia, especially New South Wales.{{ cite web | last=Jobling | first=James A. | title=novaehollandiae | work=The Key to Scientific Names | url=https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/key-to-scientific-names/search?q=novaehollandiae | publisher=Cornell Lab of Ornithology | access-date=25 August 2024 }}

The grey morph has a pale grey head and back, dark wingtips, barred grey breast and tail, and white underparts. The white morphs of this species and the closely related variable goshawk are the only birds of prey in the world to be entirely white.{{cn|date=December 2020}}

Grey goshawks are the largest Tachyspiza on mainland Australia, at about {{convert|40|to|55|cm|in|abbr=on}} long, with wingspans of {{convert|70|to|110|cm|in|abbr=on}}.{{cite book |last1=Ferguson-Lees |first1=J. |last2=Christie |first2=D. |year=2001 |title=Raptors of the World |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |isbn=0-618-12762-3}} Females are much larger than males, weighing about {{convert|720|g|lb|abbr=on}} on average (and sometimes scaling up to {{convert|990|g|lb|abbr=on}}) while males average {{convert|355|g|oz|abbr=on}}.CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses, 2nd Edition by John B. Dunning Jr. (Editor). CRC Press (2008), {{ISBN|978-1-4200-6444-5}}.

The grey goshawk is found along the coasts of northern, eastern and south-eastern Australia, Tasmania and rarely Western Australia. It was formerly considered conspecific with the variable goshawk.

Their preferred habitats are forests, tall woodlands, and timbered watercourses.

Grey goshawks often seem to vary their prey selection opportunistically. For an Accipiter, they relatively often select mammals such as rabbits, possums, and bats. Other prey can include small reptiles, and insects. However, the most frequent prey type are most often birds. Evidence from different parts of the range shows females select larger prey than males, with males largely keeping to small to mid-sized passerines while females often prey on larger prey such as currawongs, gamebirds (including megapodes) and even herons. Pigeons and parrots are a popular prey item for grey goshawks. Evidence indicates that this species is less agile in the air and less skilled at twisting pursuits over the ground than co-occurring brown goshawks but, on the other hand, the grey species is more powerful and so select typically larger prey.Olsen, P. D., Debus, S. J. S., Czechura, G. V., & Mooney, N. J. (2016). Comparative feeding ecology of the grey goshawk Accipiter novaehollandiae and brown goshawk Accipiter fasciatus. Australian Field Ornithology, 13(6).Cupper, J., & Cupper, L. (1981). Hawks in focus: A study of Australia's birds of prey. Harrell Books.

Hunting is often done by stealth, but grey goshawks are willing to pursue their prey before catching it with their talons.

Grey and white goshawks interbreed freely. They partner for life, breeding from July to December. They nest in tall trees on a platform of sticks and twigs with a central depression lined with green leaves. The female lays a clutch containing 2 or 3 eggs, which are incubated for about 35 days. Chicks fledge 35–40 days after hatching.

The female is usually responsible for incubating the eggs and feeding the young. The male does most of the hunting.{{Cite web |url=http://birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=180 |title=Birds in Backyards - Grey Goshawk |access-date=2007-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214112745/http://birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=180 |archive-date=2007-12-14 |url-status=dead }}

State of Tasmania

• This species is "endangered" in Tasmania.{{cite web|title=Accipiter novaehollandiae Grey Goshawk|url=https://www.threatenedspecieslink.tas.gov.au/Pages/Grey-Goshawk.aspx|website=tas.gov.au}}

State of Victoria (Australia)

• The grey goshawk is listed as "threatened" on the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.{{cite web|url=http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/EADA0F1874AF9CF24A2567C1001020A388BBA5581CF9D859CA256BB300271BDB|archive-date=18 July 2005|title=Listed Items|website=DSE Victoria|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050718182613/http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/EADA0F1874AF9CF24A2567C1001020A388BBA5581CF9D859CA256BB300271BDB}} Under this Act, an "Action Statement" for the recovery and future management of this species has not been prepared.{{cite web|title=Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act: Index of Approved Action Statements |website=DSE Victoria |archive-date=11 September 2006 |url=http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/617768308BCB666E4A25684E00192281E7A24BB36FF60A144A256DEA00244294|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060911130015/http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/617768308BCB666E4A25684E00192281E7A24BB36FF60A144A256DEA00244294}}
• On the 2007 advisory list of threatened vertebrate fauna in Victoria, this species is listed as vulnerable.{{cite book | author = Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment | title = Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria - 2007 | publisher = Department of Sustainability and Environment | year = 2007 | location = East Melbourne, Victoria | isbn = 978-1-74208-039-0 | page = 15 }}

State of Queensland

• This species is listed as "least concern" in Queensland.{{cite web |url=https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/species-search/details/?id=1730 |title=Species profile—Accipiter novaehollandiae (grey goshawk) |website=Environment, land and water - Queensland Government |publisher=Queensland Government |access-date=28 December 2020}}

File:Grey Goshawk (Accipiter novaehollandiae) 2370.jpg

File:Grey goshawk 1 (21894521433).jpg

{{reflist}}

• 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}}

• [http://rainforest-australia.com/grey_goshawk.html Rainforest-Australia.com: grey goshawk]
• [https://archive.today/20040322201259/http://lamington.nrsm.uq.edu.au/Documents/Birds/greygoshawk.htm Grey goshawk - Lamington National Park]

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grey goshawk

Category:Birds of prey

Category:Birds of Australia

Category:Birds of Tasmania

Category:Diurnal raptors of Australia

Category:Birds described in 1788

Category:Taxa named by Johann Friedrich Gmelin