Red-tailed Hawk vs Secretary Bird
Buteo jamaicensis compared with Sagittarius serpentarius
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Red-tailed Hawk | Secretary Bird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Buteo jamaicensis | Sagittarius serpentarius |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Sagittariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Endangered |
| Length | 53.0 cm (20.9 in) | 130.0 cm (51.2 in) |
| Wingspan | 124.0 cm (48.8 in) | 210.0 cm (82.7 in) |
| Weight | 1080.0 g (38.10 oz) | 3700.0 g (130.51 oz) |
| Diet | Small to medium mammals, especially voles, mice, and rabbits. Also takes birds, reptiles, and large … | Snakes, lizards, small mammals, and large insects. Hunts on foot, stomping prey to death with … |
| Clutch Size | 2-4 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Red-tailed Hawk only
Secretary Bird only
None
Red-tailed Hawk
Open country with scattered elevated perches such as trees, poles, and cliffs. Adaptable to farmland, grasslands, roadsides, and suburban areas.
Secretary Bird
Open grasslands, savannas, and light woodland across sub-Saharan Africa. Avoids dense forests and very arid regions.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Secretary Bird
A surprisingly deep, resonant croaking 'kowrr-kowrr' often heard at dawn on African savannas. Also gives pig-like grunting sounds. Mostly silent compared to true songbirds.
Geographic Range & Migration
Red-tailed Hawk
North America from Alaska to Panama, including the Caribbean. One of the most common raptors in North America.
Secretary Bird
Sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal and Somalia south to South Africa. Resident throughout its range.
Conservation Status
Red-tailed Hawk
Secretary Bird
How to Tell Them Apart
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
Secretary Bird
Grey body plumage with black flight feathers and thigh feathers. Distinctive long black crest feathers trail from the back of the head. Orange-red bare facial skin.
Short, strong, hooked greyish bill with a yellowish cere
About These Birds
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.
Secretary Bird
The secretary bird is the only raptor that hunts primarily on foot, striding through grasslands on crane-like legs up to 1.2 meters tall. Its name may derive from the crest feathers resembling quill pens tucked behind a secretary's ear. The species is classified as Endangered due to habitat loss and decline across much of its range.