Accipiter fasciatus

5 Brown Goshawk at Deakin, ACT

Accipiter fasciatus at Deakin, ACT - 3 Dec 2017
Accipiter fasciatus at Deakin, ACT - 3 Dec 2017
Accipiter fasciatus at Deakin, ACT - 3 Dec 2017
Accipiter fasciatus at Deakin, ACT - 3 Dec 2017
Accipiter fasciatus at Deakin, ACT - 3 Dec 2017
Request use of media

Identification history

Accipiter fasciatus 12 Mar 2018 ChrisDavey
Accipiter cirrocephalus 7 Mar 2018 natureguy
Accipiter fasciatus 7 Mar 2018 roymcd

Identify this sighting


Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

8 comments

SallyandPeter wrote:
   7 Mar 2018
Beautful sharp photos Roy.
natureguy wrote:
   8 Mar 2018
The middle toe is a lot longer than the other toes. Brown Goshawk's middle toe is the usually only slightly longer than the other toes, but in Collared Sparrowhawk, the middle toe is much longer. Unfortunately, I can't see any of the other main ID features so I think this is a Collared Sparrowhawk.
   8 Mar 2018
I'm pretty sure it's longer in both, but the goshawk is just longer while the Sparrowhawk is much longer
roymcd wrote:
   8 Mar 2018
I don't have a copy at hand but if I recall correctly the 2017 Aust. Bird Guide (Menkhorst et al) has a good explanation which helped me understand the Brown Goshawk vs Collared Sparrowhawk toe length (with useful diagram). If I recall I think that book also suggests the cere colour of the beak as an ID feature. In my opinion if you can manage a good photo of the beak, that can be an easier ID feature rather than looking at the feet, tail feathers etc...
   8 Mar 2018
Interesting. I don't have a copy of that guide, and had never previously heard of that being an ID feature
   8 Mar 2018
Agree re 2017 Aust Bird Guide (Menkhorst et al) re cere colour.
Any chance you a good photo of tail, as besides cere and relative position of 1st knuckle, that is the main feature referred to in that guide.
ChrisDavey wrote:
   12 Mar 2018
Interesting. Debus Birds of Prey of Australia- A Field Guide 2012 referring to juveniles indicates that for brown goshawk cere olive-yellow and for collared sparrowhawk cream to greenish-yellow. No mention about adults. I cannot see any reference to differences in cere between these two species in Menkhorst. The flat head, short middle toe and frown tells me Brown Goshawk. Chris
ChrisDavey wrote:
   13 Mar 2018
Goshawk/Sparrowhawk are always a problem for images seldom show the imoirtant features. I now realise that how far forward the eye ridge goes is a critical id feature. In this case the eye ridge goes forward of the eye. It is only due to excellent photography such as this that this feature stands out. Chris

Please Login or Register to comment.

Location information

Sighting information

  • 2 Abundance
  • 3 Dec 2017 04:05 PM Recorded on
  • roymcd Recorded by

Additional information

  • True Nesting site

Species information

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
2,152,742 sightings of 19,933 species in 6,473 locations from 11,401 contributors
CCA 3.0 | privacy
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.