Accipiter gentilis -- (Linnaeus, 1758)ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- ACCIPITRIFORMES -- ACCIPITRIDAECommon names: Northern Goshawk; Autour des palombes; Eurasian Goshawk; Goshawk

European Red List AssessmentEuropean Red List Status

LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1)

Assessment InformationYear published: 2015Date assessed: 2015-03-31Assessor(s): BirdLife InternationalReviewer(s): Symes, A.Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L.Assessment RationaleEuropean regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

At both European and EU27 scales this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations).

For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern within both Europe and the EU27.

OccurrenceCountries/Territories of OccurrenceNative:Albania; Andorra; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland, Rep. of; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Gibraltar (to UK)Vagrant:Canary Is. (to ES)

PopulationThe European population is estimated at 166,000-220,000 pairs, which equates to 332,000-440,000 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 55,800-81,200 pairs, which equates to 112,000-162,000 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

TrendIn Europe and the EU27 the population size is estimated to be decreasing by less than 25% in 21 years (three generations). For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

Habitats and EcologyThe species is mainly resident, but its northernmost populations in Scandinavia and Russia migrate south between September and November, returning in March and April (Snow and Perrins 1998, Orta and Marks 2014). Soaring flight is used frequently (Snow and Perrins 1998). It is always seen singly or in pairs (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). It inhabits mature woodland, preferring areas near clearings and the forest edge. Small birds and mammals make up the vast majority of its diet, with grouse, pheasants and partridges being especially important in boreal zones. Nests are built on the forks or branches of large trees and are made of sticks, lined with twigs and fresh leaves. Clutches are usually two to four (Orta and Marks 2014).

Habitats & AltitudeHabitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence

Artificial/Terrestrial - Urban Areas suitable breedingArtificial/Terrestrial - Urban Areas suitable non-breedingForest - Boreal suitable breedingForest - Temperate major breedingGrassland - Tundra suitable breedingAltitude 0-3400 m Occasional altitudinal limits

ThreatsSignificant declines in Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries are thought to have resulted from persecution and deforestation, with later declines in the 1950s and 1960s a result of poisoning from pesticides and heavy metals. Persecution continues to be a threat, as is nest robbing for falconry (Orta and Marks 2014). It is also highly vulnerable to the impacts of potential wind farm developments (Strix 2012).Threats & Impacts

Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and StressesAgriculture & aquaculture

Agro-industry plantations

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesMedium Impact

StressesEcosystem conversion

Biological resource use

Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals (persecution/control)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesMedium Impact

StressesSpecies mortality

Energy production & mining

Renewable energy Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesMedium Impact

StressesSpecies mortality

Pollution Herbicides and pesticides

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant

DeclinesLow Impact

StressesIndirect ecosystem effects

ConservationConservation Actions UnderwayBern Convention Appendix II. CITES Appendix II. CMS Appendix II. Subspecies A. g. arrigonii is listed on Annex I of the EU Birds Directive. The species benefits from natural and managed reafforestation, for example in Ukraine, it is expanding southwards in plantations (Orta and Marks 2014).

Conservation Actions ProposedRestrictions on hunting and nest robbing should be implemented and enforced where they are lacking. Important areas of optimal habitat, consisting of farmland interspersed with mature forest should be preserved (Orta and Marks 2014).

BibliographyFerguson-Lees, J. and Christie, D.A. 2001. Raptors of the world. Christopher Helm, London.Orta, J. and Marks, J.S. 2014. Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.) 2014. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/53089 on 16 March 2015).Snow, D.W.; Perrins, C.M. 1998. The Birds of the Western Palearctic vol. 1: Non-Passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford.Strix. 2012. Developing and testing the methodology for assessing and mapping the sensitivity of migratory birds to wind energy development. BirdLife International, Cambridge.

Map (see overleaf)