Black-mantled Goshawk vs Bald Eagle
Accipiter melanochlamys compared with Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black-mantled Goshawk | Bald Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Accipiter melanochlamys | Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 79.0 cm (31.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 45.7 cm (18.0 in) | 203.0 cm (79.9 in) |
| Weight | 232.2 g (8.19 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 | -- | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Black-mantled 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
Black-mantled 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
Black-mantled Goshawk
Bald Eagle
North America from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Black-mantled Goshawk
Bald Eagle
How to Tell Them Apart
Black-mantled 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
Black-mantled Goshawk
The Black-mantled Goshawk is a medium-sized, compact hawk with a dark blackish back and mantle, pale gray underparts with fine rufous barring, and yellow cere and feet. It inhabits montane forests of New Guinea at elevations between 900 and 2,800 meters. It preys on small birds and lizards, pursuing them through the forest with agile, rapid flight.
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.