Red-legged Sparrowhawk vs Bald Eagle
Accipiter erythropus compared with Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Red-legged Sparrowhawk | Bald Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Accipiter erythropus | Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 79.0 cm (31.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 30.9 cm (12.2 in) | 203.0 cm (79.9 in) |
| Weight | 118.5 g (4.18 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 | 2 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Red-legged Sparrowhawk 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
Red-legged Sparrowhawk
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
Red-legged Sparrowhawk
Bald Eagle
North America from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Red-legged Sparrowhawk
Bald Eagle
How to Tell Them Apart
Red-legged Sparrowhawk
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
Red-legged Sparrowhawk
The Red-legged Sparrowhawk, <em>Accipiter erythropus</em>, is a small raptor in the family Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles & Kites). It inhabits forest environments, consistent with the arboreal hunting style characteristic of accipiters. Detailed plumage and behavioral descriptions of this species are limited in the available literature. The species is assessed as Least Concern on global conservation evaluations. Available nesting data indicate a clutch size of 2 eggs, though further details on nest structure, incubation duration, and fledging period are not documented here. …
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.