Brown Goshawk vs Golden Eagle

Accipiter fasciatus compared with Aquila chrysaetos

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Brown Goshawk Golden Eagle
Scientific Name Accipiter fasciatus Aquila chrysaetos
Order Accipitriformes Accipitriformes
Family Accipitridae Accipitridae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length 81.0 cm (31.9 in)
Wingspan 54.0 cm (21.3 in) 212.0 cm (83.5 in)
Weight 415.0 g (14.64 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 2-4 1-3
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Brown Goshawk
Golden Eagle 81.0 cm
Wingspan
Brown Goshawk 54.0 cm
Golden Eagle 212.0 cm
Weight
Brown Goshawk 415.0 g
Golden Eagle 4050.0 g
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Brown Goshawk only

Golden Eagle only

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.

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Song & Call Comparison

Brown Goshawk

Golden Eagle

Song

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.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Brown Goshawk

Golden Eagle

Holarctic distribution across North America, Europe, North Africa, and Asia. The most widely distributed eagle species.

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Brown Goshawk

Least Concern

Golden Eagle

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How to Tell Them Apart

Brown Goshawk

Golden Eagle

Plumage

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.

Bill

Dark horn-colored hooked bill with a yellow cere

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About These Birds

Brown Goshawk

The Brown Goshawk, <em>Accipiter fasciatus</em>, is a medium-sized raptor in the family Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles & Kites), found across forested habitats within its range. As an accipiter, it is likely an agile aerial predator adapted to hunting within dense woodland. Detailed plumage and behavioral descriptions of this species are limited in the available literature beyond nesting data. The species is assessed as Least Concern. Nesting records indicate a platform-style nest (type PL), with incubation lasting approximately 29 to 33 days …

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.

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