Hawks and eagles are both counted among the Birds of Prey, belonging to the same family Accipitridae and among the largest and heaviest predators. However, if you are a bird watcher, then you would understand that eagles and hawks belong to different sub-categories and they also have different habitats, appearances, and diets.
Let’s have a clear view when it comes to Hawk vs. Eagle.
Hawk
There are 270 species of hawk and they belong to two subfamilies known as Accipitrinae and Buteoninae. The fastest and sleek ones belong to the Accipitrinae group and they have long tails and depend on other birds as their prey. The Buteoninae group is heavy, slow, and depends on large prey for its food.
The most famous hawk is the red-tailed hawk which is found in America. The smallest one is a sharp shinned hawk which preys on small birds, like sparrows. They are quite smaller than the eagle with a wingspan of 15 to 16 inches and cannot carry more than 4 pounds in weight. Interestingly, they have a vision accuracy of more than 8 times that of humans and can see colors.
They can fly at a speed of 150 miles per hour which makes them the fastest species among the bird population. The female birds are seen to be larger than their male counterparts and they have a distinct curved shaped beak which is called a bill. They also have powerful legs and sharp talons.
Eagles
Eagles have a speed of 150 miles per hour and this helps them hunt their potential prey. There are 68 different species of eagle and they are found throughout Mexico, North America, Asia, and Northern Africa. These hunters have excellent eyes, speed, size, and also sharp beaks. They have curved talons to catch and hold their prey.
An interesting fact is that they can turn their heads 210 degrees which makes them powerful carnivorous birds. They are intelligent and considered on top of the avian food chain. These birds are the largest birds of prey and have an adaptable nature even at higher altitudes. These birds tend to gain more aggression during their mating season when they become territorial.
Eagles belong to 4 main subgroups and they can be classified as:
- Fish eagles (genus Haliaeetus)
- Snake eagles (genus Circaetus)
- Giant forest eagles (genera Morphnus and Harpia)
- Booted eagles (genera Hieraaetus and Aquila)
Fish eagles have whiteheads and they generally depend on fishes as their prey. The famous Bald eagle is included in this group, along with Steller’s sea eagle.
Snake eagles are of medium size and they depend on reptiles as their food. They can be found in the African continent and are among the migratory birds which live in Europe and Western Asia. The most famous in this group is the Short-toed snake eagle.
Giant forest eagles are monster raptors and can carry about 10 kgs of prey from the ground. They are typically found in tropical rainforests and appear to be scary due to their big size. The famous eagle of this type is the Harpy eagle.
Booted eagles are considered to be the true eagles which are found mostly in the Northern half of the globe. The golden eagle is counted in this group.
Differences Between Hawk and Eagle
Eagles are bigger compared to hawks but hawks have a greater grip strength with about 200 pounds per square inch. The eagles have more straight wings whereas hawks have rounded and sticker appearance.
Eagles are about 15 to 36 inches in length from tail to head and can weigh 1 to 21 pounds, whereas hawks are 7.9 to 27 inches in length from tail to head and weigh 2.5 ounces to pounds. Eagles can carry a prey of 10 kgs but a hawk can carry only 4 kgs.
Eagles have a higher pitch and a more chirpy sound when compared with a hawk, whereas the hawk has a hoarser and screeching sound.
Can Hawks See Better than Eagles?
Yes, hawks have better eyesight when compared with eagles. An eagle can see up to 2 miles but hawks have a 20/4 or 20/5 vision.
