Red-legged Sparrowhawk vs Red-tailed Hawk
Accipiter erythropus compared with Buteo jamaicensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Red-legged Sparrowhawk | Red-tailed Hawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Accipiter erythropus | Buteo jamaicensis |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 53.0 cm (20.9 in) |
| Wingspan | 30.9 cm (12.2 in) | 124.0 cm (48.8 in) |
| Weight | 118.5 g (4.18 oz) | 1080.0 g (38.10 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Small to medium mammals, especially voles, mice, and rabbits. Also takes birds, reptiles, and large … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Red-legged Sparrowhawk only
None
Red-tailed Hawk only
Red-tailed Hawk
Open country with scattered elevated perches such as trees, poles, and cliffs. Adaptable to farmland, grasslands, roadsides, and suburban areas.
Song & Call Comparison
Red-legged Sparrowhawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Iconic, raspy descending scream: 'kreeeeee-ar', often used in films for all raptors. Gives short barking 'kak' notes near nest. Juveniles beg with persistent squealing whistles.
Geographic Range & Migration
Red-legged Sparrowhawk
Red-tailed Hawk
North America from Alaska to Panama, including the Caribbean. One of the most common raptors in North America.
Conservation Status
Red-legged Sparrowhawk
Red-tailed Hawk
How to Tell Them Apart
Red-legged Sparrowhawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Variable plumage from pale to dark morphs. Most adults have rich brown upperparts, a pale breast with a dark belly band, and the characteristic rufous-red tail.
Dark hooked bill with a yellow cere
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. …
Red-tailed Hawk
The red-tailed hawk is the most widespread and common hawk in North America. Its screaming cry is so iconic that it is often dubbed over bald eagle footage in films and television. These adaptable raptors thrive in human-altered landscapes and are a familiar sight perched along highways.