Red-tailed Hawk vs White-tailed Eagle
Buteo jamaicensis compared with Haliaeetus albicilla
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Red-tailed Hawk | White-tailed Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Buteo jamaicensis | Haliaeetus albicilla |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 53.0 cm (20.9 in) | 84.0 cm (33.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 124.0 cm (48.8 in) | 225.0 cm (88.6 in) |
| Weight | 1080.0 g (38.10 oz) | 5200.0 g (183.42 oz) |
| Diet | Small to medium mammals, especially voles, mice, and rabbits. Also takes birds, reptiles, and large … | Fish, waterfowl, and carrion. Often pirates food from other birds. Takes fish from the water … |
| Clutch Size | 2-4 | 1-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Red-tailed Hawk only
White-tailed Eagle 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.
White-tailed Eagle
Coastlines, large lakes, and rivers with mature trees or cliffs for nesting. Requires large undisturbed areas.
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.
White-tailed Eagle
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.
Geographic Range & Migration
Red-tailed Hawk
North America from Alaska to Panama, including the Caribbean. One of the most common raptors in North America.
White-tailed Eagle
Northern Europe and Asia from Greenland and Scandinavia to Japan. Reintroduced to Scotland and Ireland.
Conservation Status
Red-tailed Hawk
White-tailed Eagle
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
White-tailed Eagle
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.
Very large, heavy, pale yellow bill
Key Differences
- • Weight: Red-tailed Hawk (1080g) vs White-tailed Eagle (5200g)
- • Length: Red-tailed Hawk (53 cm) vs White-tailed Eagle (84 cm)
- • Wingspan: Red-tailed Hawk (124 cm) vs White-tailed Eagle (225 cm)
- • Habitat: Red-tailed Hawk prefers Open country with scattered elevated perches such as trees,; White-tailed Eagle prefers Coastlines, large lakes, and rivers with mature trees or cli
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.
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.