Cinereous Vulture vs Bald Eagle
Aegypius monachus compared with Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Cinereous Vulture | Bald Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aegypius monachus | Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 79.0 cm (31.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 146.8 cm (57.8 in) | 203.0 cm (79.9 in) |
| Weight | 9625.0 g (339.51 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 | 1-2 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Cinereous Vulture 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
Cinereous Vulture
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
Cinereous Vulture
Bald Eagle
North America from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Cinereous Vulture
Bald Eagle
How to Tell Them Apart
Cinereous Vulture
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
Cinereous Vulture
The Cinereous Vulture (<em>Aegypius monachus</em>), also known as the Black Vulture or Monk Vulture, is a very large Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles & Kites). It inhabits forest and grassland environments, foraging over open and semi-open landscapes. Detailed plumage and behavioral descriptions of this species are limited in the available literature, though it is generally known as one of the largest flying birds in the world. The Cinereous Vulture constructs a platform nest (nest type PL), …
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.