Bird Guide

Harpy Eagle vs White-throated 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
White-throated Hawk (Buteo albigula)

White-throated Hawk

Buteo albigula

Large525 gForest

The white-throated hawk is 38 to 48 cm (15 to 19 in) long with an 84 to 102 cm (33 to 40 in) wingspan. Females are up to 20% larger than males and both sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a brownish black face and upperparts. Their tail has a dark brown upper surface and a grayish lower surface with up to 10 narrow dark bands. Their chin, throat, and underparts are white with brown streaking on the breast and belly and rufous barring on the thighs. Their eye is brown and their cere, legs, and feet yellow. Voice: The white-throated hawk is thought to be mostly silent. It does make a "squealing 'kee-ah' during breeding season".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Dr. R.A. Philippi · Public domain

Where you might meet both

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