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Grey-headed goshawk

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Grey-headed goshawk
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Tachyspiza
Species:
T. poliocephala
Binomial name
Tachyspiza poliocephala
(Gray, GR, 1858)

The grey-headed goshawk (Tachyspiza poliocephala) is a lightly built, medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. This species was formerly placed in the genus Accipiter.

Description

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The upperparts are grey, paler on the head and neck; the wings are dark; the underparts are mainly white; the cere and legs are red-orange. The body is 30–38 cm long; females are larger than males. Juveniles have dark brown wings.

Distribution and habitat

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The grey-headed goshawk is endemic to New Guinea and adjacent islands. It has been recorded from Saibai Island, Queensland, an Australian territory in the north-western Torres Strait. It lives in forests, forest edges and secondary growth.

Breeding

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This species nests in tall trees on a platform of sticks and leaves.

Feeding

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It eats small reptiles and insects.

References

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  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Accipiter poliocephalus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22695558A93515750. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22695558A93515750.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  • BirdLife International. (2006). Species factsheet: Accipiter poliocephalus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/12/2006
  • Coates, B.J. (1985), The Birds of Papua New Guinea, Vol. 1, Non-Passerines. Dove: Alderley, Queensland. ISBN 0-9590257-0-7
  • Morcombe, Michael. (2000). Field Guide to Australian Birds. Steve Parish Publishing: Queensland. ISBN 1-876282-10-X