European Honey-buzzard vs White-tailed Eagle

Pernis apivorus compared with Haliaeetus albicilla

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute European Honey-buzzard White-tailed Eagle
Scientific Name Pernis apivorus Haliaeetus albicilla
Order Accipitriformes Accipitriformes
Family Accipitridae Accipitridae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length 84.0 cm (33.1 in)
Wingspan 81.5 cm (32.1 in) 225.0 cm (88.6 in)
Weight 698.25 g (24.63 oz) 5200.0 g (183.42 oz)
Diet -- Fish, waterfowl, and carrion. Often pirates food from other birds. Takes fish from the water …
Clutch Size 1-3 1-3
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
European Honey-buzzard
White-tailed Eagle 84.0 cm
Wingspan
European Honey-buzzard 81.5 cm
White-tailed Eagle 225.0 cm
Weight
European Honey-buzzard 698.25 g
White-tailed Eagle 5200.0 g
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

European Honey-buzzard only

White-tailed Eagle only

White-tailed Eagle

Coastlines, large lakes, and rivers with mature trees or cliffs for nesting. Requires large undisturbed areas.

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Song & Call Comparison

European Honey-buzzard

White-tailed Eagle

Song

High-pitched, yelping 'klee-klee' and deep barking 'ra-ra-ra'. Less vocal than Bald Eagle but similar chattering quality. Gives gull-like wailing near nest in breeding season.

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Geographic Range & Migration

European Honey-buzzard

White-tailed Eagle

Northern Europe and Asia from Greenland and Scandinavia to Japan. Reintroduced to Scotland and Ireland.

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

European Honey-buzzard

Least Concern

White-tailed Eagle

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How to Tell Them Apart

European Honey-buzzard

White-tailed Eagle

Plumage

Brown body with a paler head in adults and a distinctive short white wedge-shaped tail. Massive broad wings in flight. Juveniles are darker overall.

Bill

Very large, heavy, pale yellow bill

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About These Birds

White-tailed Eagle

The white-tailed eagle is Europe's largest eagle and the fourth-largest eagle in the world. Once extinct in Britain, it has been successfully reintroduced to Scotland and Ireland through conservation programs. These powerful raptors can live over 25 years and form lifelong pair bonds.

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Related Comparisons

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