Bald Eagle vs Oriental Stork
Haliaeetus leucocephalus compared with Ciconia boyciana
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Bald Eagle | Oriental Stork |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Ciconia boyciana |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Ciconiiformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Ciconiidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Endangered |
| Length | 79.0 cm (31.1 in) | 115.0 cm (45.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 203.0 cm (79.9 in) | 220.0 cm (86.6 in) |
| Weight | 4300.0 g (151.68 oz) | 5000.0 g (176.37 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily fish, also waterfowl, small mammals, and carrion. Hunts by swooping down to snatch fish … | Fish, frogs, snakes, large insects, and small mammals caught in shallow wetlands. Feeds by wading … |
| Clutch Size | 1-4 | 2-6 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Bald Eagle
Large bodies of open water including coasts, rivers, and lakes with abundant fish and old-growth trees for nesting.
Oriental Stork
Wetlands, flooded rice paddies, rivers, and marshes. Nests on tall trees, utility poles, and artificial platforms.
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.
Oriental Stork
Essentially silent like all storks; produces loud mechanical bill-clattering at the nest as a greeting display. Chicks beg with hissing and squeaking. Rarely vocalizes otherwise.
Geographic Range & Migration
Bald Eagle
North America from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico.
Oriental Stork
Breeds in the Russian Far East and northeastern China. Winters in southeastern China, Japan, and Korea.
Conservation Status
Bald Eagle
Oriental Stork
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
Oriental Stork
White body plumage with black flight feathers. Red bare skin around the eye and black bill distinguish it from the white stork. Pinkish-red legs.
Long, thick, straight, black bill
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.
Oriental Stork
The oriental stork is one of the most endangered stork species, with fewer than 3,000 individuals remaining in the wild. It was once widespread across East Asia but declined dramatically due to wetland drainage and pesticide use. Reintroduction programs in Japan and Korea have achieved notable success.