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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute	Golden Eagle	Whistling Kite
Scientific Name	Aquila chrysaetos	Haliastur sphenurus
Order	Accipitriformes	Accipitriformes
Family	Accipitridae	Accipitridae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Least Concern
Length	81.0 cm (31.9 in)	—
Wingspan	212.0 cm (83.5 in)	81.5 cm (32.1 in)
Weight	4050.0 g (142.86 oz)	742.5 g (26.19 oz)
Diet	Mammals including rabbits, hares, ground squirrels, and marmots. Also takes birds, reptiles, and carrion. Hunts …	--
Clutch Size	1-3	1-4
Population Trend	—	—

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Size Comparison

Body Length

Golden Eagle 81.0 cm

Whistling Kite —

Wingspan

Golden Eagle 212.0 cm

Whistling Kite 81.5 cm

Weight

Golden Eagle 4050.0 g

Whistling Kite 742.5 g

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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

🌿 Wetland

Golden Eagle only

🏜️ Desert 🌾 Grassland

Whistling Kite only

🌲 Forest

Golden Eagle

Open and semi-open country including mountains, hills, and tundra. Prefers areas with cliffs or large trees for nesting and open terrain for hunting.

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Song & Call Comparison

Golden Eagle

Song

Mostly silent; emits a thin, high-pitched whistle 'kee-kee-kee' near the eyrie. Also gives low barking 'yak-yak' and mewing calls. Far less vocal than its size suggests.

Whistling Kite

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Geographic Range & Migration

Golden Eagle

Holarctic distribution across North America, Europe, North Africa, and Asia. The most widely distributed eagle species.

Whistling Kite

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Golden Eagle

Least Concern

Whistling Kite

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How to Tell Them Apart

Golden Eagle

Plumage

Dark brown overall with a golden-bronze sheen on the nape and crown. Juveniles show distinct white patches at the base of the tail and in the wings.

Bill

Dark horn-colored hooked bill with a yellow cere

Whistling Kite

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About These Birds

Golden Eagle

The golden eagle is one of the most powerful and agile raptors in the Northern Hemisphere. Revered by many cultures, it has been used in falconry for centuries, particularly by Kazakh eagle hunters of Central Asia. Golden eagles can dive at speeds exceeding 240 km/h when pursuing prey.

Whistling Kite

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Related Comparisons

Golden Eagle vs Harpy Eagle

same-family

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