Movements of the Goshawk in Estonia: an analysis of ring recoveries

Abstract

The Goshawk Accipiter gentilis is a partially migrating raptor species, but its movement patterns differ between regions. In this study we have analysed ring recoveries of hawks ringed or recovered in Estonia (northeastern Europe) to identify the origin, direction and age structure of moving Goshawks. The vast majority of the foreign-ringed birds recovered in Estonia were juveniles or immature birds arriving in late autumn from Finland but no movement was detected in the opposing direction. Finnish birds have also been found in Estonia at breeding age, suggesting gene flow across the Gulf of Finland. The lesser number of birds originating from the south (Latvia) suggests some integrity in the Baltic Goshawk population. Recoveries of Latvian birds were dominant in the first half of the 20th century, but almost ceased later. This probably reflects the very strong impact of persecution on the Goshawk before the protection of the species, also indicated by the higher ring-recovery rate in the past. Movements within Estonia occurred in various directions while a small proportion of birds were involved in long-distance southward migration. This study suggests that movement patterns in the Estonian Goshawk population are similar to those in Fennoscandia.