The goshawk and sparrowhawk are two distinct birds of prey in the genus Accipiter, and the simplest way to tell them apart is size: a northern goshawk is much larger and bulkier than a Eurasian sparrowhawk, with a wingspan roughly double and a body weight four to five times greater. Beyond size, they differ in habitat, hunting style, and even the shape of their wings and tail, which this article explains in detail.
What Are Goshawks and Sparrowhawks?
Both birds belong to the Accipiter genus, a group of forest-dwelling hawks with short, rounded wings and long tails that give them exceptional agility among trees. The Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) is one of the smallest accipiters in Europe and Asia, while the northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) is the largest. In North America, the term “goshawk” almost always refers to the northern goshawk, and “sparrowhawk” is not used for native species—the American kestrel is sometimes called a “sparrowhawk” in the US, but that is a small falcon, not an accipiter. This article focuses on the Eurasian sparrowhawk and the northern goshawk, which are the two species most often confused in Europe and Asia.
Key Physical Differences
Size is the most obvious difference, but a few other physical traits help confirm identification:
- Length: Goshawks measure 46–63 cm (18–25 in); sparrowhawks measure 28–40 cm (11–16 in).
- Wingspan: Goshawks span 89–127 cm (35–50 in); sparrowhawks span 55–70 cm (22–28 in).
- Weight: Goshawks weigh 400–1,400 g (0.9–3.1 lb); sparrowhawks weigh 110–340 g (0.24–0.75 lb).
- Wing shape: Goshawks have broader, more rounded wings with a noticeable bulge at the inner edge; sparrowhawks have narrower, more pointed wings.
- Tail: Goshawks have a rounded tail with a white terminal band; sparrowhawks have a square-tipped tail with dark bars.
- Eye colour: Adult goshawks have deep orange or red eyes; adult sparrowhawks have yellow or orange-yellow eyes.
- Underparts: Goshawks have fine, wavy grey barring; sparrowhawks have horizontal rufous barring (more reddish in females).
In flight, a goshawk’s wingbeats are slower and deeper, while a sparrowhawk’s are quicker and more flickering. A female sparrowhawk is about the size of a male goshawk, which can cause confusion, but the goshawk’s broader wings and heavier build usually give it away.
Habitat and Distribution
The northern goshawk has a circumpolar distribution across the northern hemisphere, living in mature forests with open spaces for hunting. It is a resident or short-distance migrant, and in winter it may move to lower elevations or more open areas. The Eurasian sparrowhawk is found across Europe, Asia, and parts of North Africa, preferring woodlands, hedgerows, and even urban parks and gardens. Sparrowhawks are more adaptable to fragmented habitats and are common in suburban areas, where they hunt garden birds. Goshawks require larger, less disturbed forests, though in some regions they have adapted to patchy woodlands.
Hunting and Diet
Both are ambush predators that use surprise and agility to catch prey in dense cover, but their prey size differs. Goshawks take medium-sized birds (crows, pigeons, grouse) and mammals (rabbits, squirrels, hares), while sparrowhawks specialize in small birds (finches, tits, thrushes) up to about 100 g, with males taking even smaller prey than females. Goshawks are powerful enough to kill prey up to the size of a hare or a pheasant, and they will also take carrion occasionally. Sparrowhawks rarely eat carrion and almost never take mammals. Both species use a similar hunting technique: they fly low and fast along a hedge or forest edge, then burst through cover to surprise prey. Goshawks, being larger, can pursue prey for longer distances and are known for their powerful, direct flight.
Behaviour and Breeding
Goshawks are solitary and fiercely territorial, defending a nesting area of several square kilometres. They build a large stick nest high in a tree and lay 2–4 eggs, with the female doing most of the incubation. Sparrowhawks are also territorial but in a more relaxed way, and they may nest closer together in good habitat. Their nest is smaller and flimsier, and they lay 4–5 eggs. In both species, the female is significantly larger than the male—a trait called reverse sexual dimorphism, which is more pronounced in sparrowhawks. During the breeding season, the male does most of the hunting and brings food to the female and chicks. Goshawks are known for their aggressive defence of the nest, sometimes striking humans who approach too closely, while sparrowhawks are less aggressive but will still dive at intruders.
Conservation and Threats
Both species have recovered from historical persecution. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, gamekeepers in Britain and Europe shot, trapped, and poisoned goshawks and sparrowhawks to protect pheasants and other game birds. Sparrowhawk populations also crashed in the 1950s and 1960s due to organochlorine pesticides like DDT, which thinned their eggshells. After these chemicals were banned, sparrowhawk numbers recovered. Goshawks were also affected but less severely. Today, both are listed as species of Least Concern by the IUCN, but they face ongoing threats from habitat loss, collisions with vehicles and windows, and illegal persecution in some areas. In the UK, the goshawk is a rare breeding bird, while the sparrowhawk is widespread and common.
How to Tell Them Apart in the Field
If you see a hawk in the woods, use these clues:
- First, judge the size relative to a familiar bird—a goshawk is crow-sized or larger; a sparrowhawk is closer to a dove or jay.
- Look at the wing shape in flight: goshawks have broad, rounded wings with a pinched base; sparrowhawks have narrower, more pointed wings.
- Check the tail: a goshawk’s tail is rounded and has a white tip; a sparrowhawk’s tail is square and barred without a white tip.
- Observe the underparts: adult goshawks have fine grey barring; adult sparrowhawks have rufous barring, especially on the underparts.
- Note the eye colour: adult goshawks have red-orange eyes; adult sparrowhawks have yellow eyes.
In flight, a goshawk’s wingbeats are slower and deeper, while a sparrowhawk’s are rapid and flickering. A female sparrowhawk is about the size of a male goshawk, so size alone is not always enough—use the wing and tail shapes to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a goshawk and sparrowhawk interbreed?
No, they are separate species and do not interbreed in the wild. Even though they are in the same genus, their size difference and different courtship behaviours prevent hybridization. There are no confirmed records of a goshawk-sparrowhawk hybrid.
Which is faster, a goshawk or a sparrowhawk?
Sparrowhawks are more agile and can accelerate quickly in tight spaces, but goshawks have a higher top speed in level flight, reaching up to 60 km/h (37 mph) when chasing prey. Sparrowhawks are better at weaving through dense vegetation, while goshawks rely on raw power and speed in more open areas.
Are goshawks dangerous to humans?
Goshawks are aggressive when defending their nest and will strike intruders, including humans, with their talons. Such attacks are rare and usually occur when a person climbs near the nest. Sparrowhawks are much less likely to attack humans, though they may dive at someone near their chicks.
What does a goshawk eat vs a sparrowhawk?
Goshawks eat medium-sized birds and mammals, such as crows, pigeons, rabbits, and squirrels. Sparrowhawks eat small birds, such as finches, sparrows, and tits. A sparrowhawk rarely takes prey larger than a thrush, while a goshawk can kill a hare or a pheasant.
Is a sparrowhawk a young goshawk?
No, they are separate species. A young goshawk is larger than an adult sparrowhawk, and it has streaked underparts (not barred) and yellow eyes that turn orange as it matures. A sparrowhawk, even a juvenile, is much smaller and has a different wing shape.
Which one is more common in gardens?
The sparrowhawk is far more common in gardens and urban areas, where it hunts small birds at bird feeders. Goshawks prefer large forests and are rarely seen in gardens, except in winter when they may venture into rural gardens near woodland.
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