It usually hunts from a perch with a swift dash after quarry (in flight) at dusk and dawn in low light conditions (Kemp 1994).
Least Concern
This small to medium sized Accipiter species displays remarkable geographical and individual variation (Louette 2010).
It is one of the commonest raptors in African forests and woodlands. Yet, the species can be easily confused with others of the same genus due to its quite extensive individual morphological variation related to age and sex.
Many characteristics should be taken into account before a definite identification can be made in those areas where it occurs alsongside other Accipiter species. Though it cannot be excluded that individuals occasionally occur outside their normal range, this must be rare, because African Goshawks are sedentary. Therefore, the locality is an important clue for the taxon identification (Louette 2010).
Widely in central and southeastern Africa: In African mainland equatorial regions (from Angola to Somalia), in southeastern regions of the continent (to South Africa), and on the islands Zanzibar and Pemba.
Under any of the phylogenetic species concepts (Louette 2010), some authorities (like Sinclair & Ryan 2003) prefer to split African Goshawk into two species: African Goshawk A. tachiro sensu stricto and ‘Red-chested Goshawk’ A. toussenelii.
According to molecular analyses by Louette’s team JEMU of the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) at Tervuren in Belgium, it appears that it is justified, based on molecular phylogenetic arguments as well as genetic distance between the species to consider A. toussenelii and A. tachiro separate species (Breman et al. 2013).
A. tachiro has been DNA barcoded; there is a DNA barcode available for the type specimen stored at the RMCA. A. tachiro has been studied in phylogenetic studies as well (Griffiths et al. 2007).
Forests and savanna woodlands
Easily confused with A. toussenelii which occurs strictly in dense forests
Age-related plumage variation: the pattern of spotting (in the juvenile) and barring (in the adult) of the breast feathers is variable among all subspecies. Plumage characteristics are functionally related to habitat, age and possibly mimicry (Louette 2000).
Sexual dimorphism in:
- plumage-colour: the females of the woodland forms have much less rufous on flanks and tibiae than males (and often none at all);
- size: the females are larger than the males, like all Accipiter species worldwide.
Resident, sedentary
It builds the nest high in a tree.
There is a cline in size in equatorial Africa, from large East African to small West African birds.
Habitat destruction and the spread of agriculture. The species is able to adapt to new environments.
The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.
It feeds on small birds, bats, rodents, squirrels, reptiles, amphibians and insects which are hunted (in flight) from a perch.
