Bald Eagle vs Black Hawk-eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus compared with Spizaetus tyrannus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Bald Eagle | Black Hawk-eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Spizaetus tyrannus |
| 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) | 76.9 cm (30.3 in) |
| Weight | 4300.0 g (151.68 oz) | 1024.0 g (36.12 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily fish, also waterfowl, small mammals, and carrion. Hunts by swooping down to snatch fish … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-4 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Bald Eagle only
Black Hawk-eagle only
None
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 Hawk-eagle
Geographic Range & Migration
Bald Eagle
North America from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico.
Black Hawk-eagle
Conservation Status
Bald Eagle
Black Hawk-eagle
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 Hawk-eagle
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 Hawk-eagle
The Black Hawk-eagle is a large, powerful forest raptor with black plumage, a prominent crest, yellow cere, and barred flight feathers visible in flight. It inhabits humid tropical forests from Mexico through Central America to Bolivia and Brazil, ranging from lowland rainforest to montane cloud forest. It preys on medium-sized birds, mammals, and reptiles, hunting within the forest canopy.