Grey-bellied Goshawk vs Bald Eagle
Accipiter poliogaster compared with Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Grey-bellied Goshawk | Bald Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Accipiter poliogaster | Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 79.0 cm (31.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 48.1 cm (18.9 in) | 203.0 cm (79.9 in) |
| Weight | 362.5 g (12.79 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 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Grey-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
Grey-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
Grey-bellied Goshawk
Bald Eagle
North America from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Grey-bellied Goshawk
Bald Eagle
How to Tell Them Apart
Grey-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
Grey-bellied Goshawk
The Grey-bellied Goshawk (<em>Accipiter poliogaster</em>) is a forest raptor belonging to the family Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles & Kites), found in the tropical forests of South America. It is a specialist of dense forest habitats, where it is believed to hunt birds and small vertebrates within the forest interior. Detailed plumage and behavioral descriptions of this species are limited in the available literature, though it is known as a secretive and rarely observed raptor within its forested range. Geographic range data …
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.