Accipiter poliocephalus Gray & GR 1858

The grey-headed goshawk (Accipiter poliocephalus) is a lightly built, medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.

Description

The upperparts are grey, paler on the head and neck; the wings are dark; the underparts are mainly white; the cere and legs are red-orange. The body is 30–38 cm long; females are larger than males. Juveniles have dark brown wings.

Distribution and habitat

The grey-headed goshawk is endemic to New Guinea and adjacent islands. It has been recorded from Saibai Island, Queensland, an Australian territory in the north-western Torres Strait. It lives in forests, forest edges and secondary growth.

Breeding

This species nests in tall trees on a platform of sticks and leaves.

Feeding

It eats small reptiles and insects.

References

• BirdLife International. (2006). Species factsheet: Accipiter poliocephalus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/12/2006
• Coates, B.J. (1985), The Birds of Papua New Guinea, Vol. 1, Non-Passerines. Dove: Alderley, Queensland. ISBN 0-9590257-0-7
• Morcombe, Michael. (2000). Field Guide to Australian Birds. Steve Parish Publishing: Queensland. ISBN 1-876282-10-X

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