Bird Guide

Harpy Eagle vs Tiny Hawk

Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja)

Harpy Eagle

Harpia harpyja

Huge4.8 kgForest

The upperside of the harpy eagle is covered with slate-black feathers, and the underside is mostly white, except for the feathered tarsi, which are striped black. A broad black band across the upper breast separates the gray head from the white belly. The head is pale grey, and is crowned with a double crest. The upperside of the tail is black with three gray bands, while the underside of it is black with three white bands. The irises are gray or brown or red, the cere and bill are black or blackish and the tarsi and toes are yellow. The plumage of males and females is identical. Voice: This species is largely silent away from the nest. There, the adults give a penetrating, weak, melancholy scream, with the incubating males' call described as "whispy screaming or wailing". The females' calls while incubating are similar, but are lower-pitched. While approaching the nest with food, the male calls out "rapid chirps, goose-like calls, and occasional sharp screams".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Brian Gratwicke from DC, USA · CC BY 2.0
Tiny Hawk (Microspizias superciliosus)

Tiny Hawk

Microspizias superciliosus

Forest

The tiny hawk is aptly named; males measure 20 cm (7.9 in), about the size of a starling, though females are slightly larger at 26.5 cm (10.5 in). It is one of the smallest true raptors in the world and is one of the smallest Accipiter species, though the little sparrowhawk of Africa is of similar or even smaller size. The birds range in weight from 75 to 120 g (2.6 to 4.2 oz) As with most raptors, there is considerable sexual dimorphism in size, with females measuring up to 25% longer and as much as 60% heavier than males.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Gray, George Robert; Hullmandel & Walton; Hullmandel, Charles Joseph; Mitchell, D. W. · Public domain

Where you might meet both

Learn this pair in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Harpy Eagle and Tiny Hawk.