Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area Headquarters

• Talent/Expert: Ah Shou
• Photographer: Ah Shou

In addition to the National Day bird, the grey-faced buzzard crossing the border in October, people can also enjoy the grand occasion of tens of thousands of migratory birds of prey flying in the wind in Taiwan. The Chinese goshawks are the representative species. Chinese goshawks fly from Northeast Asia to Kenting through the east and west sides of Taiwan Island, then to the South Sea Islands, The Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area is one of their migration paths.

The Chinese goshawk is about 30 cm in length, belonging to a small-size hawk species. Because of its small size and the orange cere is just like a pigeon’s, it is also known as the “pigeon hawk” or “dove hawk”. The head and the back are gray-blue, and the chest and the abdomen of adult birds are orange, hence the name of the Chinese goshawk (red-bellied hawk). However, the dark or light orange and orange on the abdomen vary with the individual and age. The abdomen of subadult birds only has longitudinal stripes, without the whole pieces of orange plumage. The most obvious identification between mature male birds and female birds is their eye color; male birds are red, while female and subadult birds are yellow.

September and October in autumn are the peak time for Chinese goshawks to cross the border. At that time you may as well arrange a short holiday to enjoy hawk shows; walking in suburban mountain areas in the morning or evening, you can watch Chinese goshawks attentively searching for prey to replenish their physical strength. Around 9:00 AM, when the hot air flow rises, you can watch the scene of hawks flying in the sky.