Grey Goshawk vs Red-tailed Hawk
Accipiter novaehollandiae compared with Buteo jamaicensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Grey Goshawk | Red-tailed Hawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Accipiter novaehollandiae | Buteo jamaicensis |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 53.0 cm (20.9 in) |
| Wingspan | 52.4 cm (20.6 in) | 124.0 cm (48.8 in) |
| Weight | 572.0 g (20.18 oz) | 1080.0 g (38.10 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Small to medium mammals, especially voles, mice, and rabbits. Also takes birds, reptiles, and large … |
| Clutch Size | 1-5 | 2-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Grey Goshawk only
None
Red-tailed Hawk only
Red-tailed Hawk
Open country with scattered elevated perches such as trees, poles, and cliffs. Adaptable to farmland, grasslands, roadsides, and suburban areas.
Song & Call Comparison
Grey Goshawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Iconic, raspy descending scream: 'kreeeeee-ar', often used in films for all raptors. Gives short barking 'kak' notes near nest. Juveniles beg with persistent squealing whistles.
Geographic Range & Migration
Grey Goshawk
Red-tailed Hawk
North America from Alaska to Panama, including the Caribbean. One of the most common raptors in North America.
Conservation Status
Grey Goshawk
Red-tailed Hawk
How to Tell Them Apart
Grey Goshawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Variable plumage from pale to dark morphs. Most adults have rich brown upperparts, a pale breast with a dark belly band, and the characteristic rufous-red tail.
Dark hooked bill with a yellow cere
About These Birds
Grey Goshawk
The Grey Goshawk (<em>Accipiter novaehollandiae</em>) is a medium-sized raptor of the family Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles & Kites), native to Australia and nearby islands. It occupies a range of habitats including forest and grassland, making it one of the more habitat-versatile members of its genus. Detailed plumage and behavioral descriptions of this species are limited in the available literature for this record, though the Grey Goshawk is notable for occurring in both a grey-and-white morph and a pure white morph, the …
Red-tailed Hawk
The red-tailed hawk is the most widespread and common hawk in North America. Its screaming cry is so iconic that it is often dubbed over bald eagle footage in films and television. These adaptable raptors thrive in human-altered landscapes and are a familiar sight perched along highways.