Eagle

Hawk

Kingdom

Animalia

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Chordata

Class

Aves

Aves

Order

Falconiformes

(or Accipitriformes, q.v.)

Falconiformes

(or Accipitriformes, q.v.)

Family

Accipitridae

Accipitridae

Species

Two main groups of eagles: land eagles and sea eagles, or ernes.

Over 250 species

Characteristics

Hooked beaks, curved talons, exceptionally keen eyesight, powerful wings, strong bodies, and feathered legs.

Strong legs, sharp and curved talons, sharp, powerful and curved beaks, powerful wings, keen eyesight, swift fliers, can soar for long periods

Gender differentiation

The female are usually larger than the male.

Female are usually larger and stronger than the male.

Color

Vary in color: golden, blackish-gray, brown, etc. The bald eagle has a white feathered head and a white tail. Bills are usually light or yellow in color.

Vary in color; most are gray or reddish brown on top and whitish underneath. Usually the bills are black, the feet yellow, and the talons black.

Feathers

The land eagles have legs feathered down to the toes. The sea eagles have legs feathered halfway down to the toes.

Usually have darker spots or streaks on the neck, breast, and legs and darker bars on the tail and wings. Their legs are feathered, in some species right down to the toes.

Hunting

Mostly hunt by day. Most eagles grab prey without landing and take flight with it so the prey can be carried to a perch and torn apart.

Mostly hunt by day; bat hawk of Asia and Africa, hunts at night. Hunt by sudden dashes from a concealed perch.

Prey

Varies on species; includes fish, snakes, medium-sized vertebrate, ground mammals and other birds.

Smaller birds and land animals, such as rats, mice, gophers, rabbits, and grasshoppers.

Nesting

Build nests, called eyries, in tall trees or on high cliffs.

Bulky nests of sticks on rocky cliffs or hills, or in trees. A few species nest on the ground.

Eggs

Many species lay two whitish eggs.

Whitish or light blue usually spotted with brown, and number between two to seven.

Hatchings

The older, larger chick frequently kills its younger sibling once it has hatched.

Covered with white down, looked after by both parents, able to fly after 4-6 weeks.