Goukamma Nature Reserve
Western Cape · Year-round
9 places
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Black Sparrowhawk
Astur melanoleucus
The black sparrowhawk (Astur melanoleucus), sometimes known as the black goshawk or great sparrowhawk, is a bird of prey belonging to the family Accipitridae.
Species insights
When to visit
Recorded year-round
Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.
Best monthsAny month
Recorded in Western Cape~772 records
Curve from 1,430 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Where you'll find it
Western Cape and beyond
Provinces where Black Sparrowhawk is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,430 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Black Sparrowhawk
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
Ouberg Private Nature Reserve
Montagu · From R 350 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Barry House on Riverton
Robertson · From R 1,155 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Riebeek Valley, Riebeek West · From R 5,636 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn · From R 5,060 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Pumula Lodge 4 Star Guesthouse Knysna
Hunter's Home, Knysna · From R 2,310 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Melkkamer Homestead, De Hoop
De Hoop Nature Reserve · Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Marloth Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve · From R 1,180 a night
Black Sparrowhawk recorded here
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
Keurbooms River Nature Reserve · From R 2,170 a night
Black Sparrowhawk recorded here
De Hoop Collection
De Hoop Nature Reserve · Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve · From R 680 a night
Black Sparrowhawk recorded here
Robberg Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve · From R 1,560 a night
Black Sparrowhawk recorded here
Lark House
Glencairn, Cape Town · Price on request
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Bloukrans Off-Grid Cabin
Montagu · From R 1,500 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly
Grootvadersbosch Campsites
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve · From R 300 a night
Black Sparrowhawk recorded here
Grootvadersbosch Cabins
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve · From R 1,460 a night
Black Sparrowhawk recorded here
Luiperd & Rooikat Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve · From R 1,750 a night
Black Sparrowhawk recorded here
Bakoorvos & Silwervos Cottages
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve · From R 1,750 a night
Black Sparrowhawk recorded here
Scolopia Cottage
Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve · From R 1,780 a night
Black Sparrowhawk recorded here
Ichelesi Cottage
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve · From R 1,950 a night
Black Sparrowhawk recorded here
Fish Eagle Loft
Goukamma Nature Reserve · From R 1,340 a night
Black Sparrowhawk recorded here
Otter's Rest
Goukamma Nature Reserve · From R 1,370 a night
Black Sparrowhawk recorded here
Kabeljou Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve · From R 1,560 a night
Black Sparrowhawk recorded here
Stumpnose Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve · From R 1,560 a night
Black Sparrowhawk recorded here
Blacktail Cottage
Goukamma Nature Reserve · From R 1,560 a night
Black Sparrowhawk recorded here
The Overberg
Next stop
Whale coast and rolling farm country
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Black Sparrowhawk
Hosts have recorded the Black Sparrowhawk at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve and Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve.
Best hours of the day
- Late morning to mid-afternoon. Raptors soar once the sun raises thermals.
- Early morning. Often perched while the air warms.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Astur melanoleucus
Records
1,430
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Black Sparrowhawk on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Black Sparrowhawk in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Black Sparrowhawk at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve, Table Mountain National Park and De Mond Nature Reserve and other reserves. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the Black Sparrowhawk in South Africa?
The Black Sparrowhawk is most recorded in Western Cape (54% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (19% of records), Gauteng (13% of records), based on 1,430 iNaturalist observations. 32 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Black Sparrowhawk on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Black Sparrowhawk?
The Black Sparrowhawk is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; De Hoop Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve: Autumn and spring, Mar-May, Sep-Nov. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Black Sparrowhawk?
The black sparrowhawk (Astur melanoleucus), sometimes known as the black goshawk or great sparrowhawk, is a bird of prey belonging to the family Accipitridae. It was formerly placed in the genus Accipiter.