Japanese Sparrowhawk vs Bald Eagle
Accipiter gularis compared with Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Japanese Sparrowhawk | Bald Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Accipiter gularis | Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 79.0 cm (31.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 32.5 cm (12.8 in) | 203.0 cm (79.9 in) |
| Weight | 132.75 g (4.68 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 | 2-5 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Japanese 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
Japanese 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
Japanese Sparrowhawk
Bald Eagle
North America from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Japanese Sparrowhawk
Bald Eagle
How to Tell Them Apart
Japanese 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
Japanese Sparrowhawk
The Japanese Sparrowhawk (<em>Accipiter gularis</em>) is a compact raptor belonging to the family Accipitridae, the hawks, eagles, and kites. It inhabits forest environments across its range in East and Southeast Asia, where it is associated with woodland and forested landscapes. This species is a migratory hawk, breeding in forests of Japan, China, and neighboring regions before wintering in Southeast Asia. Its conservation status is assessed as Least Concern. Detailed plumage and bill descriptions are limited in the available literature. Nesting …
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.