A large, powerful, spectacular woodland predator with rather long, broad wings and a long tail.

A larger version of the Sparrowhawk, it is far less familiar than its smaller relative. Even where a pair or two are resident, they may be surprisingly difficult to see for such big birds, except during their spring display flights. Bird-watchers often misidentify female Sparrowhawks as Goshawk, but on seeing a genuine Goshawk for the first time they wonder at their mistake. A female Goshawk is big and dramatic, it cannot be taken for the smaller bird. The smaller male can be more of a problem, unless seen with other birds for a good size comparison.