Falcons and eagles are both birds of prey, meaning they are predators that hunt and eat other animals. Though they occupy similar ecological niches, these two types of raptors have distinct differences when it comes to their size, hunting strategies, preferred prey and behavior. A common question that arises is whether falcons are likely to attack eagles or vice versa.
Key Differences Between Falcons and Eagles
Falcons and eagles vary significantly in size and build. Eagles are substantially larger, weighing 5-14 pounds with wingspans up to 7.5 feet across. Comparatively, falcons are small birds weighing just 1-3 pounds with wingspans around 3 feet.
Eagles employ soaring flight to hunt, utilizing air currents to spotted potential prey animals moving on the landscape below. Falcons are powered fliers, using speed and fast dives called stoops to capture prey on the wing.
The diet of eagles is quite varied, including fish, other birds, and medium to large mammals. Falcons specialize in hunting birds and small mammals in flight.
When it comes to aggression and territoriality, eagles are more prone to attacking intruders and perceived threats than falcons. Eagles will defend large nesting territories from other eagles and predators. Falcon pairs may defend a small nesting area against direct threats but are not territorial over hunting grounds.
Will Falcons Attack Eagles?
Given the differences in size, hunting methods, diet and aggression levels between eagles and falcons, it is very unlikely that a falcon would ever attack an eagle. Here are several reasons why:
Massive Size Disadvantage
An eagle with a wingspan of 6 feet and weighing 10-14 pounds is simply far too large for a 1-3 pound falcon with a 3 foot wingspan to take on and successfully attack. The size differential is too great for a falcon to overcome. Even a large falcon species like the Gyrfalcon would not attempt to attack such a massive opponent.
Eagles are Not Falcon Prey
A falcon’s diet consists of appropriately-sized prey that it is adapted to hunt – mainly small to medium sized birds like doves, ducks and songbirds. A huge eagle does not fit into a falcon’s ecological niche as suitable prey. Falcons hunt on the wing and need agile, flying targets. An eagle would be difficult to maneuver and control for a falcon once captured.
Eagles are Too Dangerous to Provoke
Eagles have dangerous talons and razor sharp beaks that could easily injure or kill a falcon in close combat. Eagles are aggressive defenders of their territory and unlikely to back down from a fight. A falcon that attacked an eagle would likely end up seriously harmed or killed itself in the process. The risk simply does not outweigh any potential rewards.
Falcons Have No Reason to Attack
Food and territory are the two primary reasons animals enter into combat. A falcon has no need to attack an eagle for either of these resources. Eagles do not compete for the small bird prey that falcons target, so there is no conflict over food. Falcons also establish much smaller nesting territories than eagle pairs, so they can easily avoid encroaching on an eagle’s living space. Without a territory dispute or completion for food, a falcon has no cause to instigate an attack.
Will Eagles Attack Falcons?
While it is extraordinarily unlikely for a falcon to attack an eagle, the reverse scenario is more plausible. Here are some reasons an eagle may attack a falcon under certain circumstances:
Perceived Threat to Nest or Young
Eagles are highly defensive of their large nesting territories. If a falcon happened to fly close to the nest, the eagle pair would perceive this as a threat and attempt to drive off the potential predator through vocalizations, feigned dives or actual physical attacks. They are fiercely protective parents and may attack any bird that gets too close to their eggs or eaglets.
Competition Over a Fresh Kill
If a falcon made a kill within the boundaries of an eagle’s territory, the eagle might attempt to steal the dead prey item for itself or its young. This could potentially precipitate an attack by the eagle on the smaller falcon in order to claim the food.
Mistaken Identity
An eagle may occasionally misidentify a flying falcon as another eagle encroaching on its territory. If the eagle dives to drive off the intruder, the falcon could be forced to maneuver defensively to avoid being struck or grappled. This would not be an intentional attack, but rather a case of mistaken identity.
Conclusion
In summary, it is highly improbable for a falcon to purposely attack an eagle due to the huge disparity in size, differences in diet and hunting methods, and the risks posed by provoking such a large and dangerous predator. However, an eagle is much more likely to attack a falcon if it strays too close to the eagle’s nest, competes for food, or is mistaken for an invading eagle. Caution and avoidance of eagle nesting territories are a falcon’s best strategies for escaping confrontation. While conflicts may occasionally occur between these two types of raptors over resources or territory, deliberate attacks by falcons on eagles do not take place in the wild.
| Raptor | Average Weight | Average Wingspan | Prey Size | Hunting Strategy | Territorial Aggression |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle | 5-14 lbs | 6-7.5 feet | Medium to large | Soaring flight | High |
| Falcon | 1-3 lbs | 2-3 feet | Small to medium | Powered flight | Low |
Key Reasons Falcons Won’t Attack Eagles
- Massive size disadvantage against eagles
- Eagles do not fit as suitable prey for falcons
- Eagles can seriously injure or kill falcons
- No competition with eagles over food or territory
Scenarios Eagles May Attack Falcons
- A falcon gets too close to an eagle’s nest
- A falcon makes a kill in an eagle’s territory
- An eagle mistakes a falcon for an intruding eagle
In nature, conflicts are rare between falcons and eagles given their distinct lifestyles and ecological niches. However, eagles are much more prone to attack falcons due to their highly territorial nature and instinct to protect their nest sites and offspring at all costs. Caution on the part of the smaller falcons is warranted to avoid antagonizing these larger, more aggressive raptors when hunting near eagle habitats. With plenty of skies to soar and adequate food resources, eagles and falcons can co-exist successfully while minimizing competitive clashes through proper avoidance behaviors.
