Slaty-backed Goshawk vs Red-tailed Hawk
Accipiter luteoschistaceus compared with Buteo jamaicensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Slaty-backed Goshawk | Red-tailed Hawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Accipiter luteoschistaceus | Buteo jamaicensis |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 53.0 cm (20.9 in) |
| Wingspan | 37.6 cm (14.8 in) | 124.0 cm (48.8 in) |
| Weight | 213.5 g (7.53 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 | -- | 2-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Slaty-backed Goshawk 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
Slaty-backed Goshawk
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
Slaty-backed Goshawk
Red-tailed Hawk
North America from Alaska to Panama, including the Caribbean. One of the most common raptors in North America.
Conservation Status
Slaty-backed Goshawk
Red-tailed Hawk
How to Tell Them Apart
Slaty-backed Goshawk
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
Slaty-backed Goshawk
The Slaty-backed Goshawk (<em>Accipiter luteoschistaceus</em>) is a forest raptor in the family Accipitridae, the hawks, eagles, and kites. It is endemic to the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea, primarily recorded from New Britain and New Ireland, where it inhabits tropical forest environments. This species is assessed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, reflecting its restricted range and susceptibility to habitat loss from logging and forest clearance across the Bismarck islands. Detailed plumage and behavioral descriptions of this species are limited …
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.