White-bellied Goshawk vs Bald Eagle
Accipiter haplochrous compared with Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-bellied Goshawk | Bald Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Accipiter haplochrous | Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 79.0 cm (31.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 45.6 cm (18.0 in) | 203.0 cm (79.9 in) |
| Weight | 219.5 g (7.74 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 | 3 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
White-bellied Goshawk 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
White-bellied Goshawk
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
White-bellied Goshawk
Bald Eagle
North America from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico.
Conservation Status
White-bellied Goshawk
Bald Eagle
How to Tell Them Apart
White-bellied Goshawk
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
White-bellied Goshawk
The White-bellied Goshawk (<em>Accipiter haplochrous</em>) is a raptor in the family Accipitridae, the hawks, eagles, and kites. It is restricted to New Caledonia in the southwestern Pacific, where it occupies forest habitats. This species is assessed as Near Threatened by the IUCN, indicating that it approaches the threshold for a more elevated threat category and warrants monitoring. Detailed plumage and bill descriptions are limited in the available literature. Clutch size has been recorded as 3 eggs. Information on diet, 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.