Eagle vs Hawk: What’s the Difference?
The main difference between eagles and hawks is size: eagles are larger and heavier, with longer, broader wings and bigger beaks and feet, so they can take larger prey. Both belong to the same family, Accipitridae, and 'eagle' is a loose label for its biggest members, not a single natural group. Here, the bald eagle represents eagles and the red-tailed hawk represents hawks.
| Bald Eagle | Red-Tailed Hawk | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Buteo jamaicensis |
| Lifespan | 20–30 years in the wild; the oldest banded wild bird was 38 | 10–15 years wild birds that survive their first years; the oldest banded wild bird was at least 30 |
| Weight | 3–6.3 kg (6.6–14 lb) | 0.7–1.5 kg (1.5–3.3 lb) |
| Size | 1.8–2.3 m (5.9–7.5 ft) (wingspan) | 1.1–1.4 m (3.6–4.6 ft) (wingspan) |
| Top speed | 56–70 km/h (35–43 mph) | 32–64 km/h (20–40 mph) |
| Gestation / incubation | about 35 days | 28–35 days |
| Diet | Carnivore | Carnivore |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Habitat | Lakes and reservoirs, Rivers, Coasts, Wetlands, Mature forest near water | Open country, Farmland, Woodland edge, Desert, Cities and roadsides |
| IUCN status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Figures shown are for the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and the red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis).
Key differences
Size and wingspan
Eagles are among the largest birds of prey. A bald eagle has a far longer wingspan than a red-tailed hawk and weighs several times as much. In both groups females are larger than males. At a distance, size is hard to judge, so birders use shape: eagles show long, plank-like wings and a head that projects well forward.
Beak and feet
An eagle's beak is massive, deep and strongly hooked, nearly as long as the head in a bald eagle, and its feet and talons are proportionally huge. A hawk's beak is smaller and neater, suited to tearing up rodents, snakes and small birds. Beak size alone often separates the two at close range.
Prey
Bald eagles are sea eagles. They eat mainly fish, along with waterfowl and carrion, and they often steal catches from ospreys. Other eagles take prey as large as hares, monkeys or young deer. Red-tailed hawks, like most hawks, focus on smaller animals, especially voles, mice, rabbits, squirrels and snakes, usually caught after watching from a perch.
Flight style
Bald eagles soar with wings held flat and straight, like a board, and flap with slow, deep, heavy wingbeats. Red-tailed hawks soar with the wings raised in a slight V and often hang in place facing the wind. Forest hawks of the genus Accipiter fly with quick flaps followed by a glide.
Voice
The piercing, raspy scream that movies play over footage of eagles actually belongs to the red-tailed hawk. A real bald eagle sounds much weaker, giving a series of high, chirping whistles and chatters. If you hear that classic descending 'kee-eeer' from a bird circling overhead, you are hearing a hawk.
How to tell them apart
- An adult bald eagle is unmistakable: dark brown body with a bright white head and tail and a yellow beak.
- An adult red-tailed hawk shows a rusty red tail from above and a band of dark streaks across a pale belly.
- Check the soaring profile: flat, plank-like wings suggest an eagle; wings lifted in a shallow V suggest a red-tailed hawk.
- A very large raptor perched near open water or carrying fish is more likely an eagle than a hawk.
- Young bald eagles are mottled brown and lack the white head for about their first four to five years.
What they have in common
Eagles and hawks belong to the same family, Accipitridae, together with kites, harriers and Old World vultures. Both have hooked beaks, strong feet with curved talons, and eyesight several times sharper than a human's. Both hunt by day, build large stick nests they may reuse for years, and typically form long-term pairs, with females larger than males.
Frequently asked questions
Are eagles and hawks related?
Yes. Eagles and hawks belong to the same family, Accipitridae. 'Eagle' is not a precise scientific category; it is a name given to several groups of very large, powerful members of the family. Some eagles are more closely related to certain hawks and kites than to other eagles.
Who would win a fight, an eagle or a hawk?
An eagle would normally win because of its much greater size and strength. In practice, serious fights are rare. Hawks are more agile and frequently dive at eagles to drive them away from a nest, and the eagle usually just moves on rather than risk injury.
Is a hawk or an eagle faster?
It depends on the species and the type of flight. Large eagles such as the golden eagle reach very high speeds in a hunting dive, while many hawks are quicker and more maneuverable in level flight and tight spaces. See the comparison table for the figures on these two species.
Do eagles eat hawks?
Occasionally. Large eagles are known to prey on smaller raptors, including hawks and especially their nestlings, but hawks are not a regular part of any eagle's diet. Bald eagles eat mostly fish, waterbirds and carrion and rarely bother adult hawks.