Accipiter novaehollandiae (Grey Goshawk)

IUCN Status: Least Concern

This is the white “morph” of the grey goshawk. In biology, the phrase “morph” means a distinctive form that can be used to identify a group or individual.

This species is found along the coast from northern WA across the NT and down the east coast, and across the south to just into SA. The white morph is more common closer to the coast and the grey morph a little further inland. Tassie only gets the white morph, which is considered endangered in that state.

Grey goshawks are great hunters that scream through forest pursuing possums, rabbits and small birds. I’ve been told that the white morph is the only all white bird of prey (happy to be corrected on this). They live in rainforest, open forest and thickly wooded watercourses. They are medium sized birds of prey (similar in size to a sulphur crested cockatoo). They have a distinct grating call, which is how I was first alerted to this bird’s presence.