New Britain Goshawk

This beautiful raptor is found only on the island of New Britain in eastern Papua New Guinea. The species has been very rarely documented and was lost for nearly 55 years from July 1969 and until its rediscovery in March 2024.

New Britain Goshawk is considered globally Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. It is threatened by deforestation and loss of habitat on the island of New Britain.

A New Britain Goshawk was photographed near Pomio in East New Britain by Tom Vierus in March 2024. Prior to this, the last documented record of the species appears to be a July 1969 specimen from Mount Talawe on the western tip of New Britain that is kept at the American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA (AMNH 840800). There were multiple sight-only records in the intervening years (e.g., in 2023) and. like many birds on New Britain, New Britain Goshawk was undoubtedly a familiar species to local residents on living on the island. Nevertheless, the New Britain Goshawk appears to have eluded photo, sound, and specimen documentation for an incredible 55 years!