Golden Eagle vs Black-faced Hawk
Aquila chrysaetos compared with Leucopternis melanops
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Golden Eagle | Black-faced Hawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aquila chrysaetos | Leucopternis melanops |
| 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) | 42.2 cm (16.6 in) |
| Weight | 4050.0 g (142.86 oz) | 327.25 g (11.54 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-faced Hawk 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-faced Hawk
Geographic Range & Migration
Golden Eagle
Holarctic distribution across North America, Europe, North Africa, and Asia. The most widely distributed eagle species.
Black-faced Hawk
Conservation Status
Golden Eagle
Black-faced Hawk
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-faced Hawk
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-faced Hawk
The Black-faced Hawk is a small, compact raptor with white plumage, black-tipped wings and tail, and a distinctive black mask across the face. It inhabits humid lowland tropical forests of Amazonia, occurring in Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and adjacent countries. It hunts reptiles, frogs, large insects, and small mammals in forest interior and along rivers.