Bald Eagle vs Black-breasted Buzzard
Haliaeetus leucocephalus compared with Hamirostra melanosternon
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Bald Eagle | Black-breasted Buzzard |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Hamirostra melanosternon |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 79.0 cm (31.1 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 203.0 cm (79.9 in) | 94.5 cm (37.2 in) |
| Weight | 4300.0 g (151.68 oz) | 1310.0 g (46.21 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily fish, also waterfowl, small mammals, and carrion. Hunts by swooping down to snatch fish … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-4 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Bald Eagle only
Black-breasted Buzzard 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
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.
Black-breasted Buzzard
Geographic Range & Migration
Bald Eagle
North America from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico.
Black-breasted Buzzard
Conservation Status
Bald Eagle
Black-breasted Buzzard
How to Tell Them Apart
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
Black-breasted Buzzard
About These Birds
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.
Black-breasted Buzzard
The Black-breasted Buzzard is a large, powerful Australian raptor with brown upperparts, a distinctive black breast patch, and pale underparts with a rufous wash. It is found in arid and semi-arid interior Australia, inhabiting open plains, mulga scrub, and lightly wooded grasslands. It feeds on rabbits, lizards, and carrion, and is noted for its ability to use stones as tools to break open emu eggs.