The pointed, more angular wings help to distinguish this bird from a hawk. The male is an unmistakable bird when perched in close proximity, but less so in silhouette against a bright sky. Some of the smaller details in the plumage or head shape may not be obvious from a distance. This idea of paying attention to the wings and flight patterns of local birds of prey is perhaps the most effective when identifying them. This helps these birds to remain agile in the air and achieve greater speeds than other birds of prey. Some will also have a more pronounced angular shape. Their wings are usually more narrow in shape based on their body side and taper to a point. They could perch on branches or fences and go unseen, whereas a larger eagle would look completely out of place.Īn easier way to tell if you are looking at a falcon is through their wings. Some are as small as 8 inches or as long as 26. You will also find that some migratory species are pretty small too, such as the Red-footed Falcon. Some of our UK species are on the larger side, such as the Peregrine, but most are pretty small. Typically speaking, a falcon is a smaller bird. The first thing to consider is their size.
Four species of falcon are resident here in the UK and they all share some of the same characteristics. What Are Some Of The Distinguishing Features Of Falcons? Again, this may not be obvious when viewing birds until you get to see a wild eagle. There are also differences in the weaponry of the birds – their talons and beaks. Wing shape will determine flight patterns and hunting strategies, which helps us when watching these birds in the wild. It helps to also look at details in the shape of the bird’s head and wings. Many people will say that you can tell by the size, although this isn’t always a guarantee. While there are lots of similarities between these three groups – mostly based on their behaviours as predators – there are also notable physiological differences.
#EAGLE VS FALCON HOW TO#
In addition, the head of a Falcon tends to be rounder vs that of the Hawk, which appears more sloping.īut 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 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. As a general rule, Eagles are significantly larger than both Hawk and Falcon, possessing greater power and strength in their feet and beaks.