Red Goshawk

Our Red Goshawk research investigates the conservation biogeography of one of Australia’s rarest and least known raptors – the Red Goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus. This unique, endemic hawk occurs at extremely low densities across its wide distribution spanning the tropical and subtropical belts of eastern and northern Australia.

Concerningly, it now appears this species has been lost from most of its eastern distribution and the breeding population may now be restricted to northern Australia only. The number and spread of reported sightings has fallen considerably in recent decades indicating widespread, and in some cases, rapid population loss (e.g. south-east Queensland).

Our collective knowledge is limited due to the difficulties of researching this rare and secretive species, and therefore our understanding of the drivers behind this decline are rudimentary. Further, we don’t know if the remaining populations found across northern Australia (Cape York Peninsula, Top End, Kimberley, Tiwi Islands) are secure or are also undergoing a process of decline.

This research project hopes to address some of these knowledge gaps by developing a better understanding of the Red Goshawks movement ecology, breeding productivity and requirements, juvenile dispersal behaviours and survival rates, and its current population (and thus conservation) status.

This is only possible thanks to the vital support received by the organisations partnered in this project – the University of Queensland, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, the Queensland Department of Environment and Sciences, and Rio Tinto Weipa.