Cooper's Hawk vs Golden Eagle
Accipiter cooperii compared with Aquila chrysaetos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Cooper's Hawk | Golden Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Accipiter cooperii | Aquila chrysaetos |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 81.0 cm (31.9 in) |
| Wingspan | 48.2 cm (19.0 in) | 212.0 cm (83.5 in) |
| Weight | 429.6666666666667 g (15.16 oz) | 4050.0 g (142.86 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Mammals including rabbits, hares, ground squirrels, and marmots. Also takes birds, reptiles, and carrion. Hunts … |
| Clutch Size | 3-6 | 1-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Golden Eagle
Open and semi-open country including mountains, hills, and tundra. Prefers areas with cliffs or large trees for nesting and open terrain for hunting.
Song & Call Comparison
Cooper's Hawk
Golden Eagle
Mostly silent; emits a thin, high-pitched whistle 'kee-kee-kee' near the eyrie. Also gives low barking 'yak-yak' and mewing calls. Far less vocal than its size suggests.
Geographic Range & Migration
Cooper's Hawk
Golden Eagle
Holarctic distribution across North America, Europe, North Africa, and Asia. The most widely distributed eagle species.
Conservation Status
Cooper's Hawk
Golden Eagle
How to Tell Them Apart
Cooper's Hawk
Golden Eagle
Dark brown overall with a golden-bronze sheen on the nape and crown. Juveniles show distinct white patches at the base of the tail and in the wings.
Dark horn-colored hooked bill with a yellow cere
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 …
Golden Eagle
The golden eagle is one of the most powerful and agile raptors in the Northern Hemisphere. Revered by many cultures, it has been used in falconry for centuries, particularly by Kazakh eagle hunters of Central Asia. Golden eagles can dive at speeds exceeding 240 km/h when pursuing prey.