UK Goshawk size & origin (1 Viewer)

[King Edward]

Prompted by the recent news about the population increase of Goshawks in the New Forest (link).

Can't remember where it was but I saw a claim recently that the Goshawks currently found in the UK are larger than those in the original native population, as a result of them being derived from released/escaped falconers' birds. So I was wondering whether there was any truth in this - not their origin as such, but whether there was any material difference in characteristics between the current and former populations.

I'm mainly interested if there were any behavioural/ecological differences e.g. in the size/range of prey taken.

 

[KenM]

As I understand it (rightly or wrongly), the UK population consists of mostly introduced European birds (smaller) and Northern birds (larger) from Scandinavia. Assume that the different races interbreed where they overlap, Indeed it would be interesting to see how readily the Northern and Southern populations interact with one another. Have to assume that partner necessity knows no law, when immature birds are displaced to find new territories?

Cheers

 

[King Edward]

Thanks Ken.

 

[AStevenson]

It's in this linked paper:

https://www.britishbirds.co.uk/wp-c...e_files/V75/V75_N06/V75_N06_P243_260_A063.pdf

cheers, Andrew

 

[King Edward]

Thanks Andrew, I'll have a read through it.