Bearded Vulture vs Red-tailed Hawk
Gypaetus barbatus compared with Buteo jamaicensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Bearded Vulture | Red-tailed Hawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gypaetus barbatus | Buteo jamaicensis |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 53.0 cm (20.9 in) |
| Wingspan | 152.1 cm (59.9 in) | 124.0 cm (48.8 in) |
| Weight | 5800.0 g (204.59 oz) | 1080.0 g (38.10 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Small to medium mammals, especially voles, mice, and rabbits. Also takes birds, reptiles, and large … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 2-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Bearded Vulture only
None
Red-tailed Hawk only
Red-tailed Hawk
Open country with scattered elevated perches such as trees, poles, and cliffs. Adaptable to farmland, grasslands, roadsides, and suburban areas.
Song & Call Comparison
Bearded Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Iconic, raspy descending scream: 'kreeeeee-ar', often used in films for all raptors. Gives short barking 'kak' notes near nest. Juveniles beg with persistent squealing whistles.
Geographic Range & Migration
Bearded Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
North America from Alaska to Panama, including the Caribbean. One of the most common raptors in North America.
Conservation Status
Bearded Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
How to Tell Them Apart
Bearded Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Variable plumage from pale to dark morphs. Most adults have rich brown upperparts, a pale breast with a dark belly band, and the characteristic rufous-red tail.
Dark hooked bill with a yellow cere
About These Birds
Bearded Vulture
The Bearded Vulture, or Lammergeier, is a spectacular high-mountain raptor found from the Pyrenees and Africa to Central and South Asia. Adults are orange-buff below, dark above, with a long diamond-shaped tail and striking beard of dark bristles below the bill. Uniquely, it feeds almost exclusively on bones, dropping them from height onto rocks to access the nutritious marrow.
Red-tailed Hawk
The red-tailed hawk is the most widespread and common hawk in North America. Its screaming cry is so iconic that it is often dubbed over bald eagle footage in films and television. These adaptable raptors thrive in human-altered landscapes and are a familiar sight perched along highways.