Golden Eagle vs Black Honey-buzzard
Aquila chrysaetos compared with Henicopernis infuscatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden Eagle | Black Honey-buzzard |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aquila chrysaetos | Henicopernis infuscatus |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | 81.0 cm (31.9 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 212.0 cm (83.5 in) | 67.4 cm (26.5 in) |
| Weight | 4050.0 g (142.86 oz) | 650.5 g (22.95 oz) |
| Diet | Mammals including rabbits, hares, ground squirrels, and marmots. Also takes birds, reptiles, and carrion. Hunts … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-3 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Golden Eagle only
Black Honey-buzzard only
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.
Song & Call Comparison
Golden Eagle
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.
Black Honey-buzzard
Geographic Range & Migration
Golden Eagle
Holarctic distribution across North America, Europe, North Africa, and Asia. The most widely distributed eagle species.
Black Honey-buzzard
Conservation Status
Golden Eagle
Black Honey-buzzard
How to Tell Them Apart
Golden Eagle
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.
Dark horn-colored hooked bill with a yellow cere
Black Honey-buzzard
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.
Black Honey-buzzard
The Black Honey-buzzard is a vulnerable, medium-large raptor with dark brown to blackish plumage and a relatively long tail adapted for soaring over forest. It is endemic to New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea, inhabiting primary lowland and montane rainforest. Like other honey-buzzards, it specializes in raiding the nests of bees and wasps, feeding on larvae, pupae, and honeycomb.