African Goshawks

The African goshawk is a skilled predator, known for its stealth and agility in navigating through dense foliage to catch prey. They are solitary outside of the breeding season, and despite their proficiency as hunters, they are often elusive and difficult to spot in their natural habitat. These birds of prey exhibit remarkable flying skills, darting and weaving through trees with ease, making them fascinating subjects of study for bird watchers and ornithologists. While they are currently not considered at risk, ongoing conservation efforts are important to ensure their habitats are preserved amidst increasing deforestation and urban development pressures. Their presence in diverse habitats highlights their adaptability, but also underscores the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems for their survival.

Scientific Name: Accipiter tachiro

Habitat: The African goshawk inhabits a variety of wooded areas including forests, woodlands, and riverine vegetation across sub-Saharan Africa. They are adaptable birds, capable of living in both pristine and degraded forest areas as well as in urban parks and gardens.
Diet: Primarily feeds on birds, which it catches in flight or on the ground, but it also hunts small mammals, reptiles, and insects.
Physical Characteristics: Medium-sized raptors with a body length ranging from 30 to 38 cm (12 to 15 inches) for males and 35 to 45 cm (14 to 18 inches) for females. They have a grey back and wings, with a white underbelly marked with fine rufous barring. Their eyes are red, and they have short, broad wings and a long tail which aids in maneuverability through dense vegetation.
Lifespan: Information on their lifespan in the wild is limited, but birds of prey similar in size typically live for 10-15 years. In captivity, they may live longer.
Reproduction: African goshawks are monogamous and territorial. They build stick nests in trees where the female lays 2 to 4 eggs. The incubation period lasts about 30 to 35 days, primarily by the female, while the male provides food.
Conservation Status: Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, though they face threats from habitat destruction and degradation, as well as from pesticide use which impacts their prey base.

African Goshawks at Chipangali

African Goshawk (no-name)

Species: African Goshawk
Age on Arrival: Fully grown
Arrival Date: May 2023
Sex: Unknown

Story:  The African Goshawk’s arrival at Chipangali, wounded by the unforgiving pellets of a shotgun, embodies the sanctuary’s critical role in the crossfire of the human-wildlife conflict. The dedicated efforts of the local vet and the sanctuary team to alleviate its suffering, though not fully restoring its capability to soar, underscore Chipangali’s unwavering commitment to providing solace and a haven for the wounded. Within its new bounds, the goshawk finds a semblance of the freedom it once knew, under the watchful care of those dedicated to its welfare.

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Profile Image: Dick Daniels, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikipedia Commons
Sidebar Image: Chris Eason from London, CC BY 2.0, via Wikipedia Commons