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If we take out the smallest sparrow hawk, we narrow the size to between 18 and 30 inches. How big is a falcon compared to a hawk?Ī hawk, depending on the species can grow between 8 and 30 inches in size. Some hawks are identified as falcons, and the best known are pigeon hawk and duck hawk. All these birds are considered to be hawks. There are different hawks in the Buteos genus and among them are red-tailed, broad-tailed, broad-winged, red-shouldered, Swainson hawks, and others. Is a red-tailed hawk a falcon?Ī red-tailed hawk is a part of the Buteos genus, and in it are the largest hawks. But if the contest was in speed falcon would win. In a direct fight hawk would win because it is larger, heavier, and stronger. Round and short head, long wings pointed at the end, white cheeksįAQ About Hawks And Falcons Who is more powerful, a hawk or a falcon? Pointy head, wide wings rounded at the end, brown cheeks Resembles a scream with a kee-eee-arrr toneĪ shrieking sound that sounds as kak-kak-kak Hawks can lay anywhere between 3 and 6 eggs, that are red-spotted, while falcons always 3 or 4 eggs with brown spots. The difference is that you will rarely be able to spot it in their eggs. Hawks have brown stripes on their belly, with a white base at the top, whereas falcons have stripes on the whole belly, including the base. Hawks have brown cheeks whereas falcons have white ones.Īlso, look for a color pattern on the belly of the bird. You can also look out for the difference in the color of the feathers. Hawks have a smoother beak because they don`t use it directly in their hunt. Differences between beaks are also subtle, but visible.įalcons have a sharp bend on them so they can break the neck of their prey. This little contrast can be seen just from some angles, so you should not pay that much attention to a head shape at the start. The head may seem similar, but when you take a closer look, you can see that the hawk’s head is pointy, while falcons are round and short. Also, hawks tend to chase their prey, while falcons resemble a dive bomber when going for their prey.Īmong harder to notice differences are the shape of the head and beak. Hawks, after catching the target with their strong legs will crush it with its powerful talons.įalcons will instead use their beak that has a special side tooth for an instant kill. They both catch the prey with their talons but deliver the finishing blow differently. Falcons fly completely differently, with a lot of wing flapping and short intervals of gliding.Īnother great way to make a distinction between them is by the way they hunt. Because of their large wings, hawks fly with longer gliding intervals, with only an occasional flap of the wings. The size and shape of the wings also define the technique used for flying. Falcons are made for speed while hawks are masters at maneuvering. The shape of the wings also shows what traits the bird has. Hawks have different shapes of wings, and they are wider when compared to their body.Īlso, in the end, they are rounded which can be a great detail because it is easy to spot. Falcons have long wings that are pointed at the end. Maybe the easiest way to identify a bird of prey is in the air, by looking at their wings. That may feel similar, but an average hawk is significantly bigger than a falcon. Falcons are a little smaller and they can grow depending on the species between 8 and 26 inches.If you take out of the equation the smallest sparrow hawks, they can grow between 18 and 30 inches. Hawks are considered to be medium size birds and can grow to a maximum of 8-30 inches.Those families have different traits, from size, color, wingspan to size. To begin with, hawks are part of the Accipitridae family of birds, while falcons are a part of the Falconidae family of birds. Distinguishing Characteristics Of Hawks And Falcons Stay with me, and you will be amazed by the information you will read. Knowing to define hawks and falcons requires little more knowledge, so I will cover other differences and signature traits of these birds of prey. Hawks are larger than falcons, but falcons have longer wings that point at the end, while hawk wings are wider and rounded in the end. So what is the main difference between hawks and falcons? For starters, they are not in the same animal family, which pulls some basic differences, like size and general appearance. At first glance, they may appear to be similar, but several things set them wide apart. Hawks and falcons are widely known as birds of prey, and that is the main reason why people often don`t know the difference between them.