Bird Guide

Golden Eagle vs Tawny Eagle

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)

Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos

Huge4.2 kgGrassland

Voice: While many accipitrids are not known for their strong voices, golden eagles have a particular tendency for silence, even while breeding. That being said, some vocalization has been recorded, usually centering around the nesting period.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Golden Eagle
Recorded by Pascal Christe · Begging call, song · Boltigen, Obersimmental, Bern, Switzerland · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Gäbler · CC BY 3.0
Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)

Tawny Eagle

Aquila rapax

Huge2.2 kgShrubland

The tawny eagle is considered to appear "inelegant, scruffy-looking" but has a fairly characteristic aquiline silhouette. The species has a fairly long neck and long deep bill with a gape line level with the eye, moderately long wings with fairly pronounced "fingers" and a slightly rounded to almost square-ended and shortish tail, which can be more reminiscent of the tail of a vulture than that of other eagles. The feathering on the legs is extensive and can appear almost baggy-looking. Voice: Tawny eagles are generally silent in most of their range. However, unlike steppe eagles, which are almost always silent away from their breeding grounds, they are said to occasionally vocalize in any season. They are also more vocal when not breeding than the spotted eagles. The usual call is a harsh, hollow-sounding, loud bark, variously transcribed as kowk-kowk, kau-kau, kiok-kiok or ki-ark.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Hobbyfotowiki · CC0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Golden Eagle and Tawny Eagle.