Sharp-shinned Hawk vs Bald Eagle
Accipiter striatus compared with Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sharp-shinned Hawk | Bald Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Accipiter striatus | Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 79.0 cm (31.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 36.3 cm (14.3 in) | 203.0 cm (79.9 in) |
| Weight | 134.5 g (4.74 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 | 2-5 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Sharp-shinned Hawk 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
Sharp-shinned Hawk
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
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Bald Eagle
North America from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Bald Eagle
How to Tell Them Apart
Sharp-shinned Hawk
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
Sharp-shinned Hawk
The Sharp-shinned Hawk, <em>Accipiter striatus</em>, is a small but agile member of the family Accipitridae and is one of the most widespread hawks in the Americas, ranging from Alaska and Canada south through Central America and the Caribbean. It inhabits forested landscapes, where it adeptly maneuvers through dense vegetation in pursuit of prey. Detailed plumage and bill descriptions are not fully captured in the data available for this account. The nest is a platform-type structure typically built in conifers or …
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.