Eurasian Sparrowhawk vs White-tailed Eagle
Accipiter nisus compared with Haliaeetus albicilla
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Eurasian Sparrowhawk | White-tailed Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Accipiter nisus | Haliaeetus albicilla |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 84.0 cm (33.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 41.5 cm (16.3 in) | 225.0 cm (88.6 in) |
| Weight | 209.0 g (7.37 oz) | 5200.0 g (183.42 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Fish, waterfowl, and carrion. Often pirates food from other birds. Takes fish from the water … |
| Clutch Size | 1-7 | 1-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Eurasian Sparrowhawk only
White-tailed Eagle only
White-tailed Eagle
Coastlines, large lakes, and rivers with mature trees or cliffs for nesting. Requires large undisturbed areas.
Song & Call Comparison
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
White-tailed Eagle
High-pitched, yelping 'klee-klee' and deep barking 'ra-ra-ra'. Less vocal than Bald Eagle but similar chattering quality. Gives gull-like wailing near nest in breeding season.
Geographic Range & Migration
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
White-tailed Eagle
Northern Europe and Asia from Greenland and Scandinavia to Japan. Reintroduced to Scotland and Ireland.
Conservation Status
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
White-tailed Eagle
How to Tell Them Apart
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
White-tailed Eagle
Brown body with a paler head in adults and a distinctive short white wedge-shaped tail. Massive broad wings in flight. Juveniles are darker overall.
Very large, heavy, pale yellow bill
About These Birds
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
The Eurasian Sparrowhawk (<em>Accipiter nisus</em>) is a widespread and well-known raptor of the family Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles & Kites), occurring across much of Europe and Asia. It is closely associated with forest habitats, including mixed woodland, conifer plantations, and wooded farmland where it hunts small birds with remarkable speed and agility. Detailed plumage and behavioral descriptions of this species are limited in the available literature for this record, though the species is known to display strong sexual dimorphism in size. …
White-tailed Eagle
The white-tailed eagle is Europe's largest eagle and the fourth-largest eagle in the world. Once extinct in Britain, it has been successfully reintroduced to Scotland and Ireland through conservation programs. These powerful raptors can live over 25 years and form lifelong pair bonds.