Fiji Goshawk vs Bald Eagle

Accipiter rufitorques compared with Haliaeetus leucocephalus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Fiji Goshawk Bald Eagle
Scientific Name Accipiter rufitorques Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Order Accipitriformes Accipitriformes
Family Accipitridae Accipitridae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length 79.0 cm (31.1 in)
Wingspan 43.5 cm (17.1 in) 203.0 cm (79.9 in)
Weight 226.66666666666666 g (8.00 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 2-4 1-4
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Fiji Goshawk
Bald Eagle 79.0 cm
Wingspan
Fiji Goshawk 43.5 cm
Bald Eagle 203.0 cm
Weight
Fiji Goshawk 226.66666666666666 g
Bald Eagle 4300.0 g
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Fiji 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.

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Song & Call Comparison

Fiji Goshawk

Bald Eagle

Song

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.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Fiji Goshawk

Bald Eagle

North America from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico.

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Fiji Goshawk

Least Concern

Bald Eagle

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How to Tell Them Apart

Fiji Goshawk

Bald Eagle

Plumage

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.

Bill

Large, hooked, bright yellow bill

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About These Birds

Fiji Goshawk

The Fiji Goshawk, <em>Accipiter rufitorques</em>, belongs to the family Accipitridae and is endemic to the Fijian archipelago in the southwestern Pacific. Detailed plumage and behavioral descriptions of this species are limited in the available literature. It is associated primarily with forested habitats, where it likely hunts small vertebrates and invertebrates typical of island accipiter diets. The nest type recorded for this species is described as a platform-like structure, consistent with the nesting style of many hawks in this family. Clutch …

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.

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Related Comparisons

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