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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute	Lesser Fish-eagle	Red-tailed Hawk
Scientific Name	Icthyophaga humilis	Buteo jamaicensis
Order	Accipitriformes	Accipitriformes
Family	Accipitridae	Accipitridae
Conservation Status	Near Threatened	Least Concern
Length	—	53.0 cm (20.9 in)
Wingspan	70.6 cm (27.8 in)	124.0 cm (48.8 in)
Weight	782.5 g (27.60 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	2-3	2-4
Population Trend	—	—

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Size Comparison

Body Length

Lesser Fish-eagle —

Red-tailed Hawk 53.0 cm

Wingspan

Lesser Fish-eagle 70.6 cm

Red-tailed Hawk 124.0 cm

Weight

Lesser Fish-eagle 782.5 g

Red-tailed Hawk 1080.0 g

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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

🌲 Forest 🌿 Wetland

Lesser Fish-eagle only

None

Red-tailed Hawk only

🏖️ Coastal 🏜️ Desert 🌾 Grassland

Red-tailed Hawk

Open country with scattered elevated perches such as trees, poles, and cliffs. Adaptable to farmland, grasslands, roadsides, and suburban areas.

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Song & Call Comparison

Lesser Fish-eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Song

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.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Lesser Fish-eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

North America from Alaska to Panama, including the Caribbean. One of the most common raptors in North America.

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Conservation Status

Near Threatened

Lesser Fish-eagle

Least Concern

Red-tailed Hawk

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How to Tell Them Apart

Lesser Fish-eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Plumage

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.

Bill

Dark hooked bill with a yellow cere

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About These Birds

Lesser Fish-eagle

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.

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Related Comparisons

Red-tailed Hawk vs Harpy Eagle

same-family

Red-tailed Hawk vs Mallard

look-alike

Red-tailed Hawk vs White-tailed Eagle

same-family

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