Eurasian Goshawk vs large tortoiseshell

Accipiter gentilis compared with Nymphalis polychloros

Key Differences

• Eurasian Goshawk is Near Threatened while large tortoiseshell is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Eurasian Goshawk	large tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Aves (Birds)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Accipitriformes (Hawks & Eagles)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Accipitridae (Hawks & Eagles)	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Accipiter	Nymphalis
Species	Accipiter gentilis	Nymphalis polychloros

Evolutionary Relationship

Eurasian Goshawk and large tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Eurasian Goshawk

NT — Near Threatened

large tortoiseshell

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Eurasian Goshawk	large tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Eurasian Goshawk

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Found across Europe (7 countries) and North America (United States). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

large tortoiseshell

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 9 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found across Europe (39 countries). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Eurasian Goshawk

Eurasian Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. Close to qualifying as threatened, with populations that may become vulnerable without conservation action.

large tortoiseshell

large tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List. Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild due to severe population decline and habitat loss.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 7 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇱🇺 Luxembourg 🇳🇴 Norway 🇷🇺 Russia 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇬🇧 United Kingdom