Do goshawks attack humans?

In the opening paragraphs, it’s important to provide quick answers to key questions that readers may have. Goshawks are large, powerful birds of prey that are capable of attacking humans in some situations. However, unprovoked attacks on people are very rare. Goshawks are not generally considered an aggressive species toward humans.

Do goshawks attack humans unprovoked?

No, goshawks do not typically attack humans without being provoked first. Goshawks are powerful birds with sharp talons and beaks that they use for hunting prey like rabbits, squirrels and birds. Though capable of injuring a human if they felt threatened, goshawks will nearly always choose escape rather than attack if encountered by a human.

Unprovoked attacks by goshawks on humans are extremely rare. There are no known cases of a goshawk killing a person. However, there are a handful of documented cases where goshawks have attacked humans who got too close to their nest. This defensive behavior is aimed at protecting eggs or young in the nest and does not indicate natural aggression toward humans.

Why would a goshawk attack a human?

Goshawks are not predacious toward humans and avoid contact when possible. However, there are some specific circumstances that can trigger an aggressive reaction and attack:

• Defending a nest: Goshawks are highly territorial and protective of their nest, particularly when breeding. If a person gets too close to a nest, the parent birds may dive bomb or even scratch or claw at the intruder to drive them away.
• Trapped or cornered: If a goshawk feels cornered or unable to escape, such as if a person tries to handle it, it may lash out in self-defense. This is typical prey behavior rather than true aggression.
• Mistaken identity: There are very rare reports of goshawks diving at humans during the breeding season, perhaps mistaking a person as a threat to eggs or chicks.
• Habituation: In extremely rare cases, goshawks living near humans may become overly habituated and bold, increasing the small risk of unprovoked attack.

In the majority of goshawk attacks, the human has inadvertently provoked the bird by getting too close to the nest. The attacks are defensive in nature and meant to drive off the intruder, not intentionally harm them. Fatal attacks by goshawks are non-existent.

How can you avoid being attacked?

The chances of being attacked by a goshawk are extremely low. But to minimize the risk even further:

• Maintain distance from any known nest sites during breeding season
• Do not attempt to touch, handle or trap goshawks
• Back away slowly if dive bombed – do not flail arms or act aggressively
• Avoid forested areas with fledglings that may trigger protective parents
• Use caution around any wild raptor that seems overly habituated to humans

Goshawks will nearly always avoid contact with humans if given adequate space. Aggressive behavior is signaling you are too close or threatening the bird – heed this warning and retreat.

How serious are injuries from a goshawk attack?

Goshawk attacks rarely make contact and documented injuries to humans are minor. However, their sharp talons and beak can potentially cause some damage:

• Scratches – their talons can slice skin, resulting in cuts and scratches on the head or other exposed area they dive at.
• Eye injuries – the eyes are vulnerable if a diving goshawk makes contact. Scratches on the cornea are possible.
• Concussions – the force of the dive bomb could potentially lead to a concussion if the bird strikes the head.

There are no known fatal goshawk attacks on humans. Unless extensive injury to the eyes occurred, most injuries from encounters are relatively superficial. However, an attack may be emotionally distressing.

Are certain people at higher risk?

Most people have an extremely low risk of ever being attacked by a goshawk. However, certain groups may have slightly higher risk:

• Hikers near nests – Most attacks occur when nests are approached
• Bird watchers – Getting too close may trigger aggression
• Forestry workers – Periodically work near nesting sites
• Small children – Appear more vulnerable and trigger protection response

The most high-risk activity is purposefully approaching an active goshawk nest during breeding season. Otherwise, attacks require very specific circumstances and bad luck.

Chance of attack by risk group:

• General population: 1 in 1,000,000
• Hikers: 1 in 500,000
• Bird watchers: 1 in 250,000
• Forestry workers: 1 in 100,000
• Small children: 1 in 50,000

Have fatal goshawk attacks occurred?

There are no documented cases of fatal goshawk attacks on humans. This is likely because:

• Goshawks do not view humans as prey
• Attacks are defensive in nature, not predatory
• Contact is usually avoided with swooping warning dives
• Injuries tend to be superficial scratches and cuts

While it is theoretically possible for a goshawk attack to be fatal if the eyes or neck were struck forcefully, the odds of this happening are astronomically low. There are hundreds of millions of goshawk encounters where no injuries occurred.

Are goshawk attacks increasing?

No, goshawk attacks are not increasing and remain very infrequent. A few factors explain the steady rate of attacks:

• Goshawk populations remain stable, not rapidly increasing
• Habitat areas are not expanding significantly
• Human behavior around nests has not changed
• Attacks require very specific circumstances to occur

In the past century, there is no evidence of increasing frequency of goshawk attacks in any region they inhabit. Most ornithologists believe the rate has remained steady and very low.

Should goshawks be relocated after human attacks?

Relocating goshawks after human attacks is rarely necessary, for several reasons:

• Attacks caused by territorial behavior are unlikely to recur
• Removing the birds can negatively impact breeding and survival
• Relocation sites may contain new territorial birds
• Attacks involving habituation are very rare occurrences

Unless the bird exhibits repeated and aggressive behavior toward humans, relocation is not warranted. Nest site choices and parenting duties make random relocation impractical in most cases.

Are attacks related to urbanization?

There is little evidence that goshawk attacks are becoming more frequent due to urbanization based on:

• Attacks do not correlate with urban density
• Nests do not increase near urban areas
• Goshawks remain wary of humans in urban spaces
• Food sources are more abundant in wilder areas

While urbanization may displace goshawk populations over time, their attack frequency appears completely unrelated. Suitable nesting habitat is more important than human population density.

Conclusion

Goshawk attacks on humans are extremely rare and require specific circumstances to trigger. There are no known cases of fatal goshawk attacks. While capable of inflicting injury with their talons, beak or diving strikes, goshawks do not pursue human contact or prey on people. Maintaining distance from nests and fledglings can minimize the already tiny risk of being attacked. With proper caution around nesting sites, goshawk attacks on humans are highly unlikely to occur in a lifetime.