Spot-tailed Goshawk vs Bald Eagle
Accipiter trinotatus compared with Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Spot-tailed Goshawk | Bald Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Accipiter trinotatus | Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 79.0 cm (31.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 32.6 cm (12.8 in) | 203.0 cm (79.9 in) |
| Weight | 146.5 g (5.17 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 | -- | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Spot-tailed 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
Spot-tailed 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
Spot-tailed Goshawk
Bald Eagle
North America from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Spot-tailed Goshawk
Bald Eagle
How to Tell Them Apart
Spot-tailed 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
Spot-tailed Goshawk
The Spot-tailed Goshawk, <em>Accipiter trinotatus</em>, is a member of the family Accipitridae endemic to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and nearby smaller islands. It is associated with coastal and forested habitats, suggesting it occupies a variety of wooded environments from lowland coastal forests to inland forested areas. Detailed plumage and behavioral descriptions of this species are limited in the available literature. As an island-endemic raptor, the Spot-tailed Goshawk has a naturally restricted range, making habitat preservation on Sulawesi particularly important …
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.