Harpy Eagle vs Red-tailed Hawk
Harpia harpyja compared with Buteo jamaicensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Harpy Eagle | Red-tailed Hawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Harpia harpyja | Buteo jamaicensis |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | 100.0 cm (39.4 in) | 53.0 cm (20.9 in) |
| Wingspan | 200.0 cm (78.7 in) | 124.0 cm (48.8 in) |
| Weight | 7500.0 g (264.55 oz) | 1080.0 g (38.10 oz) |
| Diet | Arboreal mammals including sloths, monkeys, and opossums, which make up over 70% of the diet. … | Small to medium mammals, especially voles, mice, and rabbits. Also takes birds, reptiles, and large … |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 2-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Harpy Eagle only
None
Red-tailed Hawk only
Harpy Eagle
Tropical lowland rainforests, requiring large tracts of continuous forest with tall emergent trees for nesting.
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
Harpy Eagle
Rarely heard; emits mournful whistled screams 'wheee-oo' and low croaking grunts near the nest. Vocalizations poorly documented given its remote Amazonian habitat.
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
Harpy Eagle
Central and South America from southern Mexico through Brazil and northern Argentina. Range is shrinking due to deforestation.
Red-tailed Hawk
North America from Alaska to Panama, including the Caribbean. One of the most common raptors in North America.
Conservation Status
Harpy Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
How to Tell Them Apart
Harpy Eagle
Slate-black upperparts and head with a pale grey breast and white underparts with black barring. A distinctive split grey crest rises when the bird is alarmed.
Massive dark hooked bill, one of the largest of any eagle
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
Key Differences
- • Weight: Red-tailed Hawk (1080g) vs Harpy Eagle (7500g)
- • Length: Red-tailed Hawk (53 cm) vs Harpy Eagle (100 cm)
- • Wingspan: Red-tailed Hawk (124 cm) vs Harpy Eagle (200 cm)
- • Conservation: Red-tailed Hawk (Least Concern) vs Harpy Eagle (Vulnerable)
- • Habitat: Red-tailed Hawk prefers Open country with scattered elevated perches such as trees,; Harpy Eagle prefers Tropical lowland rainforests, requiring large tracts of cont
About These Birds
Harpy Eagle
The harpy eagle is among the most powerful raptors in the world, with talons as large as a grizzly bear's claws. It is the national bird of Panama. Deforestation poses the greatest threat to this species, as each breeding pair requires a vast territory of undisturbed forest.
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.