The UK is home to a wide variety of species of birds of prey. They vary significantly from the small Merlin to the enormous White-Tailed Sea Eagle. We have two species of eagle at home in this country, as well as many hawks, falcons, and other forms of raptors. A big question for those getting into watching birds of prey is how to tell the difference between the three. What distinguishes a hawk from a falcon and how are eagles different again?
As a general rule, Eagles are significantly larger than both Hawk and Falcon, possessing greater power and strength in their feet and beaks. Conversely, falcons tend to be the smaller of the three groups of birds and their wings are usually narrow in shape and taper to a point. In addition, the head of a Falcon tends to be rounder vs that of the Hawk, which appears more sloping.
But several other subtle differences can help us identify which family of birds of prey we are looking at, so continue reading and don’t miss the sometimes overlooked differences!
How To Tell The Difference Between Falcons, Hawks And Eagles
While there are lots of similarities between these three groups – mostly based on their behaviours as predators – there are also notable physiological differences. Many people will say that you can tell by the size, although this isn’t always a guarantee.
It helps to also look at details in the shape of the bird’s head and wings. Wing shape will determine flight patterns and hunting strategies, which helps us when watching these birds in the wild. There are also differences in the weaponry of the birds – their talons and beaks. Again, this may not be obvious when viewing birds until you get to see a wild eagle.
What Are Some Of The Distinguishing Features Of Falcons?
Let’s start with the falcons. Four species of falcon are resident here in the UK and they all share some of the same characteristics. The first thing to consider is their size. Typically speaking, a falcon is a smaller bird. Some of our UK species are on the larger side, such as the Peregrine, but most are pretty small.
You will also find that some migratory species are pretty small too, such as the Red-footed Falcon. Some are as small as 8 inches or as long as 26. They could perch on branches or fences and go unseen, whereas a larger eagle would look completely out of place.
An easier way to tell if you are looking at a falcon is through their wings. Their wings are usually more narrow in shape based on their body side and taper to a point. Some will also have a more pronounced angular shape. This helps these birds to remain agile in the air and achieve greater speeds than other birds of prey.
The Eurasian Kestrel
This idea of paying attention to the wings and flight patterns of local birds of prey is perhaps the most effective when identifying them. Some of the smaller details in the plumage or head shape may not be obvious from a distance. But, flight patterns are harder to miss. This is key with the Kestrel. The male is an unmistakable bird when perched in close proximity, but less so in silhouette against a bright sky. The pointed, more angular wings help to distinguish this bird from a hawk. If it then pauses to hover over open ground you know you have a Kestral.
The Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon is clearly a falcon based on name alone. But, it is very different to the Kestral. They are much bigger birds with broader wings and a different hunting strategy. It would be easy to mistake the larger female for a hawk when compared to the much smaller male Sparrowhawk.
These birds are harder to spot in flight. You may see one pass overhead or swoop past when making a kill. Otherwise, they will be surveying the territory from high perches. They too have more pointed wings that allow for better aerodynamics. The birds will stoop through the air like a fighter jet at close to 200mph and strike their prey.
The Hobby And Merlin
Then there are similar falcons that share traits with both the Kestrel and the Peregrine Falcon. The Hobby is a great example of this as it looks a lot like the Peregrine in terms of markings, but has the smaller build of the Kestrel. It uses its pointed wings for an aerobatic flight over water, where it is skilled in taking dragonflies out of the air.
The Merlin is similar in build with the same type of wing and rounded head. This bird likes to hunt closer to open ground, rather than heading up as high as the Kestrel.
How Are Hawks Different To Falcons?
When it comes to the size of hawks, there is some overlap with the falcons that can cause confusion. For example, the smaller hawks may be as short as 18 inches and the largest closer to 30. Therefore, you could put a small hawk next to a large falcon and see that the falcon is noticeably larger.
Another problem with looking at the size of the bird is that males, females, and juveniles are often very different. Females are often larger and youngsters may still have some growing to do. That is why size isn’t the best way of determining which type of raptor you can see.
The wings of a hawk don’t have the same pointed shape as the falcons, but they are still agile flyers. They can dart around trees after prey with great ease, whereas the falcons prefer to be in open country. Another physical difference is the shape of the head. Falcons tend to have rounded heads with their large, prominent forward-facing eyes.
The hawks have a more sloping shape and often appear to be more menacing as a result. The Goshawk always looks like it is ready to murder anything that looks at it the wrong way. The yellow eyes of the Sparrowhawk amplify the effect.
Another consideration when looking at the physiology of these birds is the shape and power in the feet and beaks. This isn’t always obvious unless studying the birds up close. But, the subtle differences between the hawks and falcons can make a difference.
A hawk typically relies on the power in its feet to deliver a fatal blow to its prey. The force of the impact and grip can be enough alone, but the sharp talons play their part too. They can handle larger prey with ease and carry it away. Falcons aren’t as strong so may need to rely on the sharp tooth on their beak to dispatch their kill. There are exceptions to the rule here. The speed of the descent enhances the forceful impact of a Peregrine Falcons feet.
The Sparrowhawk
One Hawk that you are quite likely to have in your local area is the Sparrowhawk. When you look at the male and female Sparrowhawk side by side, you would be mistaken for thinking that they are from separate families.
The female is a larger bird with the broader wings, barred chest and sloping head that you expect from a hawk. The male looks like it could be a falcon at first because it is much smaller in size. The blue and orange plumage is also more similar to the falcon species than the other hawks. Yet, it has the same flight style and sloping hawk head.
The extreme level of sexual dimorphism here is simply a way for the pair to cover more ground. They can hunt different prey in different areas without competing with each other. For example, the male can fly into shrubs in denser areas to take small birds while the female is strong enough to ambush larger pigeons. You may see both behaviours in your own garden.
The Goshawk
Our other UK hawk is the Goshawk. This one is a lot more difficult to see in the wild because it favours dense woodland. It will nest in conifers and glide between trees hunting its prey. The build of this bird is very similar to the female Sparrowhawk, as are the markings.
What Makes Eagles Different From Hawks And Falcons?
Then there are the two eagles in the UK. Eagles are generally easier to distinguish based on their size and location. You aren’t going to see a Golden Eagle in a local park unless it has escaped from somewhere. The Golden Eagle is widespread in Scotland and its islands and is a large bird with “golden” feathers in its head. The White-Tailed Sea Eagle is much larger again and unmistakable thanks to its 2-metre wingspan. Sightings of these are increasing in Southern England as individuals relocated to the Isle of Wight explore further afield.
One of the most obvious differences between these birds and the hawks and falcons is the size. While this is an unreliable method for determining the smaller birds of prey, eagles are significantly larger. The Golden Eagle is usually between 33 and 38 inches, with the female the larger of the two.
This is considerable against the 16-23 inch Buzzard. The White-Tailed Sea Eagle is similar in body length, at between 26-37 inches. However, the Sea Eagle is a stockier bird and has broader, longer wings. Birders often refer to this as a flying barn door and it is easy to see why when it is in flight.
It isn’t just the wingspan of the Sea Eagle that is impressive here. These broad wings are characteristic of eagle wings in that there are also prominent primaries at the ends. These look a lot like fingers. They also use little energy and can soar great distances without beating their wings.
This allows them to cover large areas at a time, with the potential to head from one end of a Scottish island to another in minutes. This is also why the ranges of the Isle of Wight colony are so broad. They can be over in Norfolk and it is like us going for a walk in the country.
Finally, there is the weaponry of these larger birds. Eagles are the most formidable avian hunters based on the power in their feet and beaks. The Harpy Eagle has a grip strength of approximately 530 psi, which is enough to crush a skull. Our eagles aren’t quite so strong, but can still take large prey such as fox cubs. The Sea Eagle also has an especially prominent yellow beak with a large hook for tearing flesh.
Where Do Buzzards Fit Into All Of This?
The Common Buzzard is a regular sight across the nation. Technically, it is a hawk. However, it is in a different group from the Sparrowhawk and Goshawks. The latter are both Accipiters, which is why they are so similar in appearance and flight style.
The Buzzard is a Buteo, which means that it has broad rounded wings that are more like that of an eagle. They also have similar colouration, but none of the size and weaponry. The Buzzard doesn’t waste energy in flight and will circle around in updrafts on the lookout for food.
Other Bird Of Prey Families In The UK
Finally, it is important to acknowledge the other birds of prey in the UK that don’t fit into either the Hawk, falcon or eagle category. The UK is also home to two harrier – Marsh and Hen – as well as the Red Kite and Osprey. Kites are similar to falcons but their own family. The fish-eating Osprey is in its category.
Key differences
To summarize, the best way to distinguish between hawks, falcons, and eagles is to look at their build and their wings. Size isn’t always an indication of a hawk vs falcon because of differences between the sexes. But, it is a good starting point and certainly helps when looking at Common Buzzards and Golden Eagles in the same setting.
Watch the way that the birds fly and pay attention to the wing shape, as this can help you pin down the species. Then, if you are lucky enough to have one perched nearby and a good set of binoculars, look at the head shape and markings.
The more time you spend watching these birds and observing the differences, the easier it will be to tell the difference. You will also gain a greater appreciation for the diversity of species in this small island nation.
See Also
- How long do magpies live?: Australia and UK!
- Parakeets In The U.K. – How Did They Get Here?
- When do blue tits nest?
- Where Do Kestrels Nest In the UK?
- The difference between female and male blackbirds
