White-breasted Hawk vs Bald Eagle
Accipiter chionogaster compared with Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-breasted Hawk | Bald Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Accipiter chionogaster | Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 79.0 cm (31.1 in) |
| Wingspan | — | 203.0 cm (79.9 in) |
| Weight | — | 4300.0 g (151.68 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Primarily fish, also waterfowl, small mammals, and carrion. Hunts by swooping down to snatch fish … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
White-breasted Hawk only
None
Bald Eagle only
Bald Eagle
Large bodies of open water including coasts, rivers, and lakes with abundant fish and old-growth trees for nesting.
Song & Call Comparison
White-breasted Hawk
Bald Eagle
High-pitched, chattering whistle: a rapid 'kleek-kik-ik-ik-ik'. Surprisingly weak and thin for such a large raptor. Also gives a lower 'kwit-kwit' call near the nest.
Geographic Range & Migration
White-breasted Hawk
Bald Eagle
North America from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico.
Conservation Status
White-breasted Hawk
Bald Eagle
How to Tell Them Apart
White-breasted Hawk
Bald Eagle
Adults have a dark brown body with a striking white head and tail. Juveniles are mottled brown and white, reaching full adult plumage at age five.
Large, hooked, bright yellow bill
About These Birds
White-breasted Hawk
The White-breasted Hawk, <em>Accipiter chionogaster</em>, is a member of the family Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles & Kites) — a diverse group of diurnal raptors found across most of the world. This species is associated with forest habitats, where it likely hunts amid dense vegetation in the manner typical of accipiters. Detailed plumage and behavioral descriptions of this species are limited in the available literature. Its conservation status is listed as Not Evaluated, meaning it has not yet been formally assessed by …
Bald Eagle
The bald eagle is the national bird and symbol of the United States. Once endangered due to DDT pesticide use, it made a remarkable recovery and was removed from the endangered species list in 2007. These powerful raptors build the largest tree nests of any bird, some weighing over two tons.