Tiny Hawk vs Red-tailed Hawk
Accipiter superciliosus compared with Buteo jamaicensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Tiny Hawk | Red-tailed Hawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Accipiter superciliosus | Buteo jamaicensis |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 53.0 cm (20.9 in) |
| Wingspan | 29.3 cm (11.5 in) | 124.0 cm (48.8 in) |
| Weight | 103.675 g (3.66 oz) | 1080.0 g (38.10 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Small to medium mammals, especially voles, mice, and rabbits. Also takes birds, reptiles, and large … |
| Clutch Size | 1-3 | 2-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Tiny Hawk only
None
Red-tailed Hawk only
Red-tailed Hawk
Open country with scattered elevated perches such as trees, poles, and cliffs. Adaptable to farmland, grasslands, roadsides, and suburban areas.
Song & Call Comparison
Tiny Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Iconic, raspy descending scream: 'kreeeeee-ar', often used in films for all raptors. Gives short barking 'kak' notes near nest. Juveniles beg with persistent squealing whistles.
Geographic Range & Migration
Tiny Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
North America from Alaska to Panama, including the Caribbean. One of the most common raptors in North America.
Conservation Status
Tiny Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
How to Tell Them Apart
Tiny Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Variable plumage from pale to dark morphs. Most adults have rich brown upperparts, a pale breast with a dark belly band, and the characteristic rufous-red tail.
Dark hooked bill with a yellow cere
About These Birds
Tiny Hawk
The Tiny Hawk, <em>Accipiter superciliosus</em>, is among the smallest members of the family Accipitridae and is found in forested regions of Central and South America. It inhabits dense tropical and subtropical forest habitats, where its diminutive size likely allows it to hunt in dense undergrowth and canopy. Detailed plumage and bill characteristics are not fully described in the literature reviewed here. The nest is recorded as a platform-like structure consistent with other hawks in this genus. Incubation lasts approximately 30 …
Red-tailed Hawk
The red-tailed hawk is the most widespread and common hawk in North America. Its screaming cry is so iconic that it is often dubbed over bald eagle footage in films and television. These adaptable raptors thrive in human-altered landscapes and are a familiar sight perched along highways.