Hawks and falcons are two types of birds of prey that are often confused with one another. However, there are some key differences between hawks and falcons that can help you distinguish between the two.
Size
One of the most noticeable differences between hawks and falcons is their size. Hawks are generally larger and more powerfully built than falcons.
For example, the red-tailed hawk, one of the most common North American hawks, is 18-25 inches long with a wingspan around 4 feet. The peregrine falcon, one of the most widespread falcons, is 15-21 inches long with a wingspan of around 3 feet.
So while their sizes overlap somewhat, most falcons are going to be smaller and more compact than most hawks. If you see a large, bulky raptor like a red-tailed hawk, it’s almost certainly going to be a hawk rather than a falcon.
Shapes
Hawks and falcons also differ somewhat in their body shapes and proportions:
- Hawks generally have broader wings and longer tails. Their wings are shorter and more rounded compared to falcons.
- Falcons have long, narrow, pointed wings and proportionally smaller tails.
- Hawks have shorter, thicker legs than falcons. A falcon’s legs are relatively longer and slimmer.
- In flight, falcons have a thinner, more streamlined appearance compared to bulky-looking hawks.
These structural differences reflect adaptations for their preferred hunting styles. Hawks’ broader wings and tails aid maneuverability and control when hunting prey in confined spaces like forests. Falcons’ long, narrow wings allow greater speed and efficiency for pursuing prey over open ground.
Beaks
Differences in beak shape can also help distinguish hawks from falcons:
- Hawks generally have thicker, heavier beaks used for tearing flesh.
- Falcons have thinner, more hooked beaks optimized for slicing and cutting.
For example, accipiters like sharp-shinned hawks have short, rounded wings for forest hunting and short, hooked beaks for plucking songbirds. Falcons like the peregrine have more needle-like beaks used to bite the necks of birds in mid-air.
Plumage
Plumage patterns and colors can provide clues, but there is considerable variation and overlap between individual hawk and falcon species. However, there are a few trends:
- Many hawks have broad, irregular bands or splotches of color. For example, red-tailed hawks are brown overall with dark brown wing feathers and pale “windows” at the base of the primaries.
- Falcons tend to have more uniform or finely streaked plumage without the coarse blotches and bands typical of hawks. For example, the peregrine falcon has a blue-gray back and barred underparts.
Habitat and Behavior
Preferences in habitat and hunting behavior can also help set hawks and falcons apart:
- Hawks are more often found in forested areas where they can maneuver through the trees to hunt small mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
- Falcons are more associated with open areas like grasslands, wetlands, or coasts. They most often hunt other birds captured in mid-air.
So a bird of prey gliding over a prairie and diving at a flock of songbirds would be much more likely to be a falcon, while one perched on a branch scanning the forest floor for prey is more likely a hawk.
Eyes
Hawks and falcons have excellent vision to spot potential prey from a distance. However, falcon eyesight is considered superior:
- Falcons have larger eyes relative to their head size. This may improve visual acuity.
- There is a deep fovea or pit in the falcon retina packed with cone photoreceptor cells. This provides sharp central vision to detect prey.
- A hawk’s fovea is more shallow and their vision is thought to be optimized more for motion detection than fine detail.
So a falcon’s eyes are specially adapted to spotting prey at a distance when hunting in open areas. Hawks are not as reliant on visual acuity and their vision is better suited for tracking movement of animals in forested environments.
Speed
Falcons such as the peregrine are faster flyers than hawks, with some of the highest speeds recorded for any animal:
- Peregrine falcons can reach speeds over 200 mph when diving on prey.
- The fastest hawks max out around 40 mph.
This great speed allows falcons to catch other birds on the wing. Hawks rely more on short bursts of speed for taking prey by surprise.
Agility
While falcons are faster in a straight line, hawks excel at agility and maneuverability in confined spaces:
- Hawks like the Cooper’s hawk have short rounded wings and long tails that give great control when banking, turning and weaving through vegetation.
- Falcons have longer wings built more for speed than agility.
So that characteristic hawk shape provides an edge when chasing prey through dense habitat but reduces top speed potential.
Prey
The types of prey preferred by hawks and falcons also show some typical differences:
- Hawks take a wide range of small animals including mammals like squirrels and rabbits, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and sometimes other birds.
- Falcons specialize in hunting birds almost exclusively, especially types that flock together in the open like pigeons or shorebirds.
So a raptor taking birds on the wing is almost certainly going to be a falcon, while one eating small mammals is more likely a hawk.
Nests
Differences in nest sites can provide clues but there is some overlap:
- Hawks often nest in trees, especially large stick nests built in forked branches.
- Many falcons nest on cliff ledges or crevices, while others use old hawk or raven nests.
- Some falcons like kestrels can adapt to a variety of urban sites like building ledges.
In general though, a large stick nest in a tree is a good sign it belongs to a hawk. A scrape nest on a cliff is more typical of falcons.
Geographic Range
The part of the world where a raptor is found can provide hints to its identity:
- More hawk species are found in forested temperate regions, especially in the Americas.
- Falcons occur worldwide but are distributed more into open habitats like deserts and the tundra.
For example, a small forest falcon in Central America is much more likely to be a hawk, while a peregrine-like falcon on the Arctic tundra will be a true falcon.
Taxonomy
From a taxonomic perspective, hawks and falcons belong to separate scientific families:
- Hawks are in the family Accipitridae.
- Falcons belong to the family Falconidae.
There are dozens of species in each family. Taxonomically it’s clear that hawks and falcons, while similar in being diurnal birds of prey, are distinct groups that diverged evolutionarily tens of millions of years ago.
Conclusion
While hawks and falcons share some general traits as birds of prey, there are many differences in their size, shape, habitat, behavior, and other attributes that allow an observer to tell them apart reliably. With practice, most people can learn to quickly distinguish a hawk from a falcon in the field.
Some key points to remember are:
- Hawks are generally larger and more muscular with broader wings and longer tails.
- Falcons are more streamlined and have long, narrow pointed wings and relatively small tails.
- Falcons are faster in open areas; hawks are more agile through cluttered habitats.
- Hawks often take mammals, reptiles and amphibians; falcons specialize in catching birds.
So by considering size and shape, habitat preferences, hunting behavior, and other factors, you can confidently tell a majestic falcon from a powerful hawk.
