Chinese Sparrowhawk vs Bald Eagle
Accipiter soloensis compared with Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Chinese Sparrowhawk | Bald Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Accipiter soloensis | Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 79.0 cm (31.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 37.6 cm (14.8 in) | 203.0 cm (79.9 in) |
| Weight | 148.5 g (5.24 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 | 3-5 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Chinese Sparrowhawk 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
Chinese Sparrowhawk
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
Chinese Sparrowhawk
Bald Eagle
North America from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Chinese Sparrowhawk
Bald Eagle
How to Tell Them Apart
Chinese Sparrowhawk
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
Chinese Sparrowhawk
The Chinese Sparrowhawk, <em>Accipiter soloensis</em>, is a migratory raptor belonging to the family Accipitridae. It breeds in parts of East Asia, including China and the Korean Peninsula, and undertakes long-distance migrations to wintering grounds in Southeast Asia and beyond. It occupies forested and wetland habitats, indicating a preference for landscapes near water or with good canopy cover. Detailed plumage and bill descriptions are not fully available in the literature reviewed here. The species is known to be a significant predator …
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.