Brown goshawks feed mainly on other medium-sized birds, while small mammals such as
rats and
rabbits are also taken. Brown goshawks often hunt near farmland or wetlands, where birds such as
ducks,
cockatoos and
pigeons are plentiful. Smaller prey such as
finches,
pipits and
fairy-wrens are also preyed on, right up to birds the size of
domestic fowls and even large, aggressive birds such as
currawongs and
kookaburras.
Bats, small
reptiles,
amphibians, and large
insects are also occasionally eaten. The main methods of catching prey are still-hunting, by which the goshawk waits on a hidden perch until prey comes within striking distance, and flying through undergrowth attempting to flush out small prey. Less often, goshawks will stoop on prey from above, or even chase small
mammals on foot. When a brown goshawk is discovered by other birds, smaller species panic and flee for cover, while larger birds such as
ravens,
crows and
magpies will aggressively mob it until it leaves the area. ==Breeding==