Scientists tracked 25 Eurasian goshawks for up to 7 years to understand how these birds use the land around their nests. They discovered that female hawks roam over an area five times larger than males—about 295 square kilometers compared to 58. The males stay close to home year-round, while females explore more as seasons change. These differences might help the birds avoid fighting over food and territory with each other. This long-term study shows that understanding how animals use space requires watching them through all seasons, not just one time of year.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How much space male and female goshawks (a type of hawk) use throughout the year, and whether being successful at raising babies affects how much they roam
  • Who participated: 25 Eurasian goshawks (a medium-sized hunting bird found in Europe and Asia) that were tracked using technology for up to 7 years as they went through different seasons and life stages
  • Key finding: Female goshawks use about five times more space than males (295 km² versus 58 km²), and females change how much area they use depending on the season, while males stay in roughly the same area year-round
  • What it means for you: This research helps us understand that male and female animals often have completely different lifestyles and needs. For wildlife protection, it suggests we need to protect larger areas for females and understand that one-size-fits-all conservation plans may not work for all animals

The Research Details

Researchers used special tracking technology to follow 25 goshawks over many years, recording exactly where each bird spent its time during different seasons. They measured the size of each bird’s home range—the total area it uses for hunting, nesting, and living—using a mathematical method called kernel density estimation. This method creates a map showing where the bird spends most of its time.

The scientists divided the birds into groups: those that defended a territory (territorial birds) and those that didn’t, and those that successfully raised babies versus those that didn’t. They compared how much space each group used and how the space use changed from season to season, particularly tracking changes from the egg-laying stage through the rest of the year.

By following the same individual birds for up to 7 years, the researchers could see patterns that wouldn’t be obvious from shorter studies. They could track how each bird’s behavior changed as it aged and experienced different breeding seasons.

Long-term tracking is crucial because animals behave very differently depending on the season. A short study might miss important patterns. By watching these hawks for years, the researchers could see that females gradually expand their range after eggs hatch, while males maintain the same territory. This kind of detailed, long-term information is essential for protecting wildlife because it shows us what space animals actually need throughout the entire year.

This study is strong because it tracked individual birds over many years (up to 7 years each), which is expensive and difficult but provides very reliable information. The researchers used the same scientific method for all birds, making comparisons fair. However, the sample size of 25 birds is relatively small, so results might not apply to all goshawk populations everywhere. The study focused on one species in one region, so we should be cautious about generalizing to other hawk species or other parts of the world.

What the Results Show

The most striking finding was the dramatic difference between males and females. Female goshawks used a median home range of 295 square kilometers, while males used only 58 square kilometers—meaning females roamed over five times more area. Interestingly, the males’ territories were almost completely contained within the females’ ranges (89-100% overlap), but the females only used 7-14% of the space that the males controlled. This suggests the birds have very different strategies for using the same landscape.

The researchers also found that territorial birds (those that actively defend their space) had slightly smaller home ranges than non-territorial birds. Birds that successfully raised babies tended to use less space than birds that failed to breed successfully, suggesting that successful breeding might allow birds to be more efficient with their space.

A key seasonal pattern emerged: female goshawks gradually increased the size of their home range after the incubation stage (when eggs are being kept warm), and they became less faithful to their nest sites as the year progressed. In contrast, males maintained their strong connection to their nest sites throughout the entire year, barely changing their core territory.

The study revealed that successful territorial birds used smaller ranges than unsuccessful territorial birds, suggesting that birds that are good at managing their space are more likely to successfully raise young. The overlap patterns between male and female ranges suggest a coordinated system where males maintain a core territory while females have the flexibility to explore larger areas, possibly to find better nesting sites or food sources.

Previous research on birds has shown that males and females often use space differently, but this study provides one of the most detailed long-term pictures of how these differences play out across seasons. The finding that females expand their range after breeding begins aligns with some other bird research but contradicts the assumption that birds maintain consistent home ranges year-round. This study adds important nuance to our understanding of how sedentary (non-migratory) birds organize their lives.

The study followed only 25 birds, which is a relatively small number for drawing broad conclusions. All the birds were from one region, so the findings might not apply to goshawk populations in other parts of Europe or Asia. The study doesn’t explain why males and females use space so differently—it shows the pattern but can’t definitively prove the reasons. Additionally, the tracking technology and methods may have changed over the 7-year study period, which could affect comparisons. Finally, the study doesn’t measure food availability or other environmental factors that might influence space use.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, wildlife managers should protect larger areas for female goshawks than for males, and should recognize that space requirements change throughout the year. Conservation plans should account for seasonal variation rather than assuming animals need the same amount of space year-round. These findings suggest that one-size-fits-all protection strategies may not work well for species with sex-specific space needs. (Confidence level: Moderate—this is solid research but limited to one species in one region)

Wildlife managers, conservation planners, and bird researchers should pay attention to these findings. Birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts will find it interesting to understand hawk behavior better. Policymakers working on habitat protection should consider these space requirements. This research is less directly relevant to the general public unless they live in areas with goshawks or work in environmental protection.

These are long-term behavioral patterns that play out over months and years. If wildlife managers implement protection strategies based on this research, it would take several years to see whether populations stabilize or improve. Individual birds show these patterns consistently, so the behaviors are stable, but population-level benefits from protection would take time to measure.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If using a bird-watching or wildlife tracking app, users could log observations of hawk sightings by season and location to build a personal database of local hawk movement patterns. Track the same individual birds (if identifiable) across different months to notice seasonal range changes.
  • Users interested in bird conservation could use the app to report hawk sightings to citizen science projects, helping researchers gather data on hawk populations and movement patterns. This contributes to the kind of long-term tracking that this research shows is so valuable.
  • For serious bird enthusiasts or researchers, set up seasonal monitoring of known hawk territories, recording location data monthly or seasonally. Compare patterns year-to-year to identify whether individual birds maintain consistent territories or expand/contract their ranges as this research suggests they do.

This research describes natural behavior patterns in goshawks and should not be used as a substitute for professional wildlife management or conservation advice. If you work in wildlife management or conservation, consult with local experts and regulatory agencies before implementing changes based on this research. This study focuses on one species in specific regions and may not apply to all hawk populations or other bird species. Always follow local laws and regulations regarding bird observation and wildlife protection.