Astur meyerianus
Meyer's Goshawk (*Astur meyerianus*) is a robust and elusive raptor endemic to the dense rainforests of New Guinea and nearby archipelagos. Its striking appearance features a dark slate-grey to black plumage over most of its upperparts, head, and chest, contrasting sharply with a white belly that is often barred with rufous or black, though this barring can be variable. The underwing coverts are typically white, and its bright yellow cere and legs provide distinct field marks against its dark...
Meyer's Goshawk primarily inhabits dense, humid tropical and subtropical primary rainforests, typically at elevations ranging from sea level up to 2,700 meters, preferring untouched montane and hill forests.
The diet of Meyer's Goshawk consists mainly of other birds, including pigeons and parrots, supplemented by small mammals like arboreal rodents and possums, and occasionally reptiles, captured through agile pursuit in dense forest.
This elusive raptor is largely diurnal, spending its days silently patrolling the forest canopy and understory, often perching motionless for extended periods awaiting prey. It employs a classic 'sit-and-wait' ambush hunting strategy, launching swift, powerful attacks on unsuspecting birds and sm...
Meyer's Goshawk is endemic to the Australasian biogeographic realm, primarily distributed across the large island of New Guinea, encompassing both the Indonesian provinces of West Papua and Papua, and the independent nation of Papua New Guinea. Its range also extends to several surrounding island...
Least Concern
- Known as the 'Phantom of the Forest' due to its elusive nature and preference for dense, remote rainforests. - Its scientific name, *meyerianus*, honors German ornithologist Adolf Bernhard Meyer, who first described the species in 1884. - Despite its size, it exhibits remarkable agility, weavin...