Cooper's Hawk vs Bald Eagle
Accipiter cooperii compared with Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Cooper's Hawk | Bald Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Accipiter cooperii | Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 79.0 cm (31.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 48.2 cm (19.0 in) | 203.0 cm (79.9 in) |
| Weight | 429.6666666666667 g (15.16 oz) | 4300.0 g (151.68 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Primarily fish, also waterfowl, small mammals, and carrion. Hunts by swooping down to snatch fish … |
| Clutch Size | 3-6 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Bald Eagle
Large bodies of open water including coasts, rivers, and lakes with abundant fish and old-growth trees for nesting.
Song & Call Comparison
Cooper's 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
Cooper's Hawk
Bald Eagle
North America from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Cooper's Hawk
Bald Eagle
How to Tell Them Apart
Cooper's 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
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk, <em>Accipiter cooperii</em>, is a medium-sized member of the family Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles & Kites), well known across North America for its skilled pursuit of birds through wooded landscapes. This species inhabits forest environments and is often associated with both mature woodland and suburban areas with tree cover. Detailed plumage and behavioral descriptions of this species are limited in the available literature beyond nesting data. Cooper's Hawk is assessed as Least Concern. Its nest is a platform structure (type …
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.