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Rare Red Goshawk Vanishing from Australia's Skies
6 Oct
Summary
- Red goshawk, Australia's rarest bird of prey, facing extinction
- Breeding areas now restricted to northern Australia's savannas
- Habitat loss and climate change threaten the species' survival
In 2025, the red goshawk, a bird that exists nowhere else on Earth, is facing a dire situation. Once a common sight in parts of eastern Australia, the species has now virtually disappeared from the country's landscape. According to researchers, the red goshawk has gone extinct across much of its former range, with the last confirmed sightings in the region dating back to the early 2000s.
The bird's breeding areas are now restricted to the tropical savannas of northern Australia, from the Kimberley in the west to Cape York on the country's northern tip. However, even this stronghold faces threats from climate change, habitat loss, and other human-driven factors. Scientists estimate there may be fewer than 1,000 mature red goshawks left in the wild, a concerning decline that has prompted the federal government to change the species' status to "endangered."
Researchers are now in a race to understand the red goshawk's habits and habitat requirements, hoping to develop effective conservation strategies to prevent its extinction. Efforts are underway to train Indigenous rangers and traditional owners to monitor the birds and their nests, providing crucial data to guide recovery efforts. But the future of this unique predator remains uncertain, as it continues to vanish from Australia's skies.
