Red-chested goshawk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red-chested goshawk |
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| Illustration by Keulemans, 1874 | |
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| Genus: |
Accipiter
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| Species: |
toussenelii
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The red-chested goshawk (Accipiter toussenelii) is a medium-sized hawk that lives in West Africa. It is often thought to be the same species as the African goshawk.
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Where Do Red-Chested Goshawks Live?
Red-chested goshawks can be found in two main areas. The eastern group lives from the Congo Basin west to Gabon and southern Cameroon. The western group lives on Bioko island and from western Cameroon west to Senegal.
These birds like to live in forests that are not very high up. They especially like rainforests and thick areas where trees have grown back. You can often find them near rivers, swamps, and even mangroves (forests that grow in salty water). They can also live in farms, parks, and large gardens. These goshawks usually stay in one place and do not migrate (travel long distances). Young birds might move to new areas as they grow up.
Sometimes, the areas where red-chested goshawks live overlap with where African goshawks live. This happens in western Uganda and the eastern and southern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
What Does a Red-Chested Goshawk Look Like?
Male red-chested goshawks have a wingspan (how wide their wings are when stretched out) of about 18.4 to 20.3 centimeters (7.2 to 8.0 inches). Females are a bit bigger, with wingspans from 20.4 to 24.3 centimeters (8.0 to 9.6 inches). Their body length is about three-fifths of their wingspan.
Males weigh between 150 and 235 grams, while females are heavier, weighing 170 to 265 grams. Adult goshawks have yellow or yellow-orange eyes, cere (the waxy part above the beak), and legs.
In the eastern group of goshawks, adults have dark gray feathers on their upper parts, with lighter heads. Their undersides are plain reddish-brown and white. Their tail is blackish with two or three large white spots. Young birds in this group are mostly blackish on top and white underneath, without many markings.
In the western group, adults also have dark feathers on top. But they have a grayish throat and their undersides have stripes mixed with reddish-brown. They have three white spots on their tail. Young birds in this group are brownish-black on top. Their undersides are white with many brown spots.
What Sounds Do They Make?
The most common sound they make is a "krit" or a sharper "whit." It sounds a bit rough and seems to come from far away. They make this sound every 2 or 3 seconds. They use it when they are sitting on a branch, especially in the morning, or when they are flying. It helps them talk to their mate, during courtship, and to tell other birds that this is their territory.
When the male brings food to the nest, he makes a quieter "tchuck" or "krit" sound. Other softer calls can be heard around the nest, especially from the female.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
The breeding season for red-chested goshawks starts in July or August and ends in February. Unlike the African goshawk, these birds do not often perform fancy flight displays to attract a mate.
They build their nests 6 to 20 meters (about 20 to 65 feet) high in a large tree. The nest is usually in the main fork of the tree or on a side branch, hidden by leaves or vines. They build the nest from sticks, making it about 40 to 60 centimeters (16 to 24 inches) wide and 15 to 45 centimeters (6 to 18 inches) deep. They line the nest with fresh leaves.
The female usually lays 2 or 3 eggs, but sometimes 1 or 4. Like most Accipitridae (a family of birds of prey), the female sits on the eggs and takes care of the young. The male brings food to the nest. Once the young birds are about half-grown, the female also helps with hunting. The eggs hatch after about 4 or 5 weeks. The young birds are ready to fly out of the nest in 32 to 36 days. Young goshawks probably get their adult feathers when they are a little over one year old.
What Do Red-Chested Goshawks Eat?
The main foods for this goshawk are frogs and freshwater crabs. They also eat large insects more often than African goshawks do. Their diet also includes lizards, earthworms, and small mammals and birds.
They hunt throughout the day, even at dawn (early morning) and dusk (evening). One way they hunt is by waiting hidden in the forest trees. They often wait near an open space, like a path or a body of water. They also fly quickly from tree to tree, looking for prey they can swoop down on or grab. Sometimes, they fly next to thick plants to surprise their prey by flying through them.
Conservation Status
The number of red-chested goshawks is probably going down because their habitat (the place where they live) is being lost. However, they are quite good at adapting to different environments. Because of this, they are probably still common in many areas.
How Are They Classified?
Sometimes, the two groups of red-chested goshawks (eastern and western) are thought of as separate species. If they were separate, the western one would be called Accipiter macroscelides, or the West African goshawk.
However, most experts group the red-chested goshawk with the African goshawk. This is because the different groups can mix, and they vary a lot even within themselves. Also, populations that are far apart can still look very similar. The Handbook of the Birds of the World and other important sources treat the red-chested goshawk as its own separate species.
Why Are They Called "Toussenelii"?
The scientists Des Murs and Verreaux named this species after a person named Alphonse Toussenel. They hoped that by naming the bird after him, it would encourage him to study natural history more seriously.
