Pied Goshawk

How The Peregrine Fund is Helping

Though The Peregrine Fund doesn't work directly with Pied Goshawks, our efforts in scientific research, habitat conservation, education, and community development help conserve raptors on a global scale. We also supply literature to researchers from our avian research library, which helps scientists around the world gather and share important information on raptor conservation. We also run the Global Raptor Impact Network which gives raptor researchers tools to more efficiently conduct their own studies while contributing to a global program. GRIN also provides citizen scientists a way to participate in raptor science and conservation.

Where They Live

The Pied Goshawk is found on the Solomon Islands, which are located in the South Pacific Ocean.  It lives in a variety of different habitats from rainforests to forest edges, and from clearings to open secondary growth. It might also be found in gardens and even along the edges of human inhabited towns. It occurs more commonly at higher elevations up to at least 1800 masl. 

What They Do

The word "pied" means having two or more different colors and is often used to name birds that are black and white. In the case of the adult Pied Goshawk, it has a dark, slate grey to black back, wings, head and tail and its upper and lower belly and underwings are white. It has a rufous collar on the nape of the neck, a yellow cere, yellow legs and yellow to reddish eyes. Some Pied Goshawks are melanistic. These birds are covered in dark feathers.  

Biologists who have observed this species noted that they seem to be quite comfortable around people and not at all wary, allowing humans to get quite close to them. In fact, this beautiful raptor is one of just a handful of native bird species found in Honiara (M. Pennay pers. comm.), the capital of the Solomon Islands and its largest city. Honiara is also home to a large population of the introduced and plentiful Indian Mynah - which the Pied Goshawk preys upon. 

The Pied Goshawk is described as a solitary species, though up to three have been observed together on at least one occasion. It often can be seen sitting on tree stumps or other low exposed perches, and sometimes soaring. The flight of this species has been described as "light and slow."

Why They Need our Help

Even though the Pied Goshawk has a relatively small distribution range, it appears to be doing quite well.  Its population is estimated to be between 1,000 and 10,000 individuals. However, because this species hasn't been studied very much at all, there is always the possibility that it is in decline, or facing threats such as habitat loss, which scientists are unaware of. It is classified as a species of Least Concern.

What They Eat

The Pied Goshawk has quite a varied diet which includes birds, such as starlings, doves, sunbirds and even domestic chickens, as well as insects, and lizards, including Water Monitor lizard. It is interesting to note that this species can be very vocal, and it calls often when it is in flight. However, it is a silent hunter. When on the hunt, it sits silently, often hidden in the shadows cast by dense foliage (M. Pennay pers. comm), waiting for just the right moment to dart out and capture its prey. 

Nests, Eggs, and Young

Very little information is available about the Pied Goshawk's breeding habits and biology. 

Researchers have reported that breeding pairs engage in lovely aerial acrobatics during courtship, which include undulating flights and steep dives. We know that these hawks build their own nests. One nest that was discovered was located in a venua tree in the crotch of a limb 20 m from the ground. The nest measured about 6 inches in depth and 10 inches in diameter. Another nest was also located in a banyan tree in riverine forest.

No one has reported how many eggs are laid, how long eggs must be incubated for or even how long nestlings stay with their parents while in the nest, or at what age they fledge. There is a lot to learn about this species.

Pied Goshawk and the World Center for Birds of Prey

The World Center for Birds of Prey offers fun ways to learn about birds of prey. The visitor center has interactive displays, tours, interesting videos and a children's room with activities from coloring sheets to quizzes to costumes and a touch table for the curious mind. We also have several different birds of prey on display year-around. Knowledgeable staff and volunteers are on hand to answer any questions you may have about Pied Goshawks or any other birds of prey. Though we are far away from the Pied Goshawk's range and though we don't have any goshawks on our Avian Ambassador team, the Northern Goshawk can be found in Idaho year-round. They nest in large trees within the Sawtooth National Forest located only a few hours away from The Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey.

References:

BirdLife International. 2016. Accipiter albogularis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22695535A93514055. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22695535A93514055.en. Downloaded on 25 March 2018.

Debus, S. and G. M. Kirwan (2020). Pied Goshawk (Accipiter albogularis), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.piegos1.01

Global Raptor Information Network. 2018. Species account: Pied Goshawk Accipiter albogularis. Downloaded from http://www.globalraptors.org on 25 Mar. 2018

Read, J.L. and Moseby, K., 2006. Vertebrates of Tetepare Island, Solomon Islands. Pacific Science, 60(1), pp.69-79. Sibley, C.G., 1951. Notes on the birds of New Georgia, central Solomon Islands. The condor, 53(2), pp.81-92.