{"id":10967,"date":"2022-04-19T20:47:18","date_gmt":"2022-04-19T20:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=10967"},"modified":"2022-04-19T20:47:19","modified_gmt":"2022-04-19T20:47:19","slug":"hawk-vs-eagle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/hawk-vs-eagle\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawk Vs Eagle: Side By Side"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You look up and see a large bird soaring on the breeze far above you. What kind of bird is it, you wonder? There are many different large birds, and they are often confused for each other because they have similar appearances and color patterns. In this article, we\u2019ll compare the hawk vs. the eagle, two of the most commonly confused birds of prey in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Hawk?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Hawk
Hawk<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A hawk is a small- to medium-sized bird of prey. There are many different kinds of hawks<\/a>, as well as other birds that are called hawks but technically belong to other families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

True hawks belong to the scientific family Accipitridae<\/em> and typically belong to the Accipiter<\/em> genus. Sometimes other birds in the same family but belonging to different genera, such as harriers and buzzards, are also called hawks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frequently, falcons, which belong to a completely different family, are also referred to as hawks because of their similar size and appearance to true hawks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hawks live on every inhabited continent in the world. As noted, there are many different species even among those considered \u201ctrue hawks;\u201d<\/em> perhaps as many as 200.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hawks range in size from seven up to 27 inches depending on species and sex. In most cases, the female is slightly larger than the male.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hawks hunt and eat a variety of different foods, including small mammals such as mice and rats, reptiles (including snakes), insects, fish, and sometimes smaller birds. Hawks silently stalk their prey from above, then dive-bomb at high speeds to capture it.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is an Eagle?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"What
Eagle<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An eagle is a medium to large bird of prey\u2013in fact, eagles are generally considered the largest birds of prey<\/a> in the world. Though some are roughly similar in size to medium and large hawks, most are significantly larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eagles, like hawks, are also found in the Accipitridae<\/em> family, though they belong to various genera within that family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eagles are also found on every continent except Antarctica. They come in many different types and classifications<\/a>, including sea eagles, snake eagles, and hawk eagles (so named because of their relatively smaller, lighter bodies).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The largest eagles in the world, the great harpy and the Philippine eagle, both stand up to three feet tall or taller and can weigh up to 20 pounds. Many eagles have wingspans of six to seven feet wide, and females are generally larger than males. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eagles are opportunistic predators that will hunt a variety of mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and other birds. They tend to sneak up on their prey, swooping in for the kill before the prey animal is even aware of its presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hawk Vs. Eagle: Similarities and Differences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hawks and eagles have many similarities which make them easy to confuse. Check out the following video, to learn more about how to distinguish the difference between hawks and eagles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=FnPu46dHsew<\/a>