What do hawks look like?Īlthough all hawks are medium-sized raptors, the individual birds of this group vary greatly in size and other physical features. But do they really resemble each other, even from up close? That’s what we’re going to find out in this section. As many would claim, these raptors appear strikingly similar from a fair distance. The appearance of hawks, eagles, and falcons is one of the major reasons for confusion between their identity. Hawks are smaller than eagles but larger than falcons.Įagles are the largest raptors of all three.

The raptor family consists of over 500 different species, and hawks, eagles, and falcons are three of its primary groups, containing over 350 species.īefore we begin our discussion on how these three are different from each other, below is a table containing crucial information about them. Vultures (both Old World and New World Vultures).According to them, the following are the birds that belong to the raptor family: The term “raptor” is derived from the Latin word “rapio”, which means taking something by force.Īlthough theoretically, all the other carnivore birds, such as storks, gulls, and penguins, should also be considered raptors, the ornithologists use it in a narrower sense. In this article, we will help you distinguish between these three raptors on the basis of their appearance, vocalization, habitat, hunting techniques, and several other grounds.Īlso referred to as “birds of prey”, raptors are a large family of carnivorous (and scavenging) birds that are at the top of the avian food chain. While when it comes to speed, the falcons outdo the others. In the terms of strength, eagles are the strongest. And falcon, the smallest, has wings that are tapered and pointy-edged. Eagles, the largest of the three, are sturdily built with heavy heads and beaks. Hawks are medium-sized birds that have broad wings and tails. So, what is the difference between hawks, eagles, and falcons? Hawks, eagles, and falcons are very different from each other if you look closely. If you too are confused between hawk, eagle, and falcon, this article will clear your confusion. When it comes to birds like falcons, hawks, and eagles, these birds appear to be very similar it’s difficult to differentiate them. Although their family is quite diverse, only the vultures and the owls can be most easily distinguished from the rest due to their unique physical features. They’re fast, lethal, and intelligent, qualities that make them majestic and frightening at the same time. The raptors are the most powerful group of birds in the avian world.

Eagle vs falcon