Falcon vs Hawk Difference: A Comprehensive Guide To Know About These Birds Of Prey

by Riley Qiu on Oct 06, 2024
Table of Contents

    Share

    When most people hear the words "hawk" and ''falcon'' regarding birds of prey, they may recall strong raptors with enormous wings. Both are birds and can be classified under the Accipitriformes order; however, they are from different families of this order, and knowing the difference between the two can give us a better look at these birds of prey. This article will provide a detailed explanation of Hawk vs Falcon differences.

    Overview Of Key Differences

    There is a significant similarity between a Falcon and a Hawk, which are both birds of prey. Still, there are differences in the birds' conduct, morphology, and feeding habits. A brief overview of the eight main differences that will be discussed between falcons and hawks includes their size, feather color and patterns, wing shape, head shape, speed, hunting and killing methods, taxonomy, nesting habits, and flying styles. 

    These factors contribute to distinguishing these two mighty birds of prey, expressing their findings adapted to the environment and food-finding techniques.

    Falcon Vs Hawk Size 

    A falcon and hawk's size is one of the most distinguishable features, setting the two birds of prey apart. Let's learn about the significant size difference between falcons and hawks. 

    Hawks:

    Hawks are generally larger birds, ranging from 8 to 30 inches long, whereas falcons are smaller to medium in size, ranging from 8 to 26 inches. The size of hawks makes them catch large meals, and most often, they tend to overpower some other small birds of prey in the dens. 


    Falcons: 

    It is important to remember that Falcons are swift birds and, construction-wise, are smaller and more compact, which will aid them in performing quick aerial stunts. Birds of prey and male birds mainly help in hunting and nest-making. Note that in both species, females are usually larger than males.


    Feather Color And Patterns 

    Typically, falcons have sharp, streamlined wings, consistent brown or gray plumage, and distinctive facial patterns. Hawks, on the other hand, frequently have wider wings and a variety of feather patterns, such as brown and white that are speckled or streaked.

    Below are the differences in feather color and patterns between falcons and hawks. 

    Hawks:

    Hawks are generally greyish and brownish feathers with pale striped undersides, with some species having distinctive patterns like the red-tailed hawk. These colorations help the hawks blend with trees and grass, allowing them to swoop down on their prey and sometimes even attack from trees.

    Falcons: 

    Falcons are Bluish-grey with black-barred wings in females. Grey-blue with black strips on the wings, mainly in the female, particularly in the peregrine falcon; the female has a black bar on the wings. These different colors ensure that falcons can easily hide in the sky when airborne, especially during hunting exercises.

    Falcon Vs Hawk Wing Shape

    They found that avian wings resist high pressures in some regions and that their shape affects flight performance and hunting strategies. The wing shape discerned can tell about the difference in their hunting mode: falcons and hawks have different wings. The differences in wing shapes are as follows:

    Hawks:

    Hawks have short, wide, and rounded wings.  These broad wings are the main feature of their ability to cover large areas with a simple flap and then glide. Their special wing shape lets them flush with the thermal currents, so they can stay airborne for some time, looking for their prey below. Their wings are also designed to fly through forests and wooden regions worldwide.


    Falcons: 

    Falcons have long, slender, and pointed wings, which aid in their speed and agility. This wing shape enables falcons to deliver brutal, steep-inclined flight at incredible speeds, blowing hot winds as they plunge to capture prey. Birds of prey, such as falcons, rely on speed to catch their prey in mid-air, making them some of the fastest animals on this planet.


    Falcon Vs Hawk Head Shape

    For accurate hunting, falcons have a bullet-shaped, streamlined head with a pronounced "tooth" or notch on their beak. Hawks, on the other hand, have rounder, wider heads and strong, hooked beaks that are meant to rip and eat animals. There are subtle differences in head shape between the two birds.

    Hawks: 

    Hawks, on the other hand, have slender, more elongated heads with sharp, hooked beaks. Like owls, hawks, and similar birds of prey use beaks to kill or tear their prey into pieces but use sharp claws to grasp the prey. Again, the morphology of head form is quite different, with falcons seeming to have faster and more accurate flight while hawks have more robust and stable flight.

    Falcon: 

    Falcons have round, short heads, while hawks have slender and pointy heads. This adaptation helps them to administer accurate, fatal chomps on the throats or spines of prey and effect a kill when chasing after their prey.

    Falcon Vs Hawk Speed

    The peregrine falcon, in particular, is known for its extraordinary speed—it may plunge over 240 mph during a hunting expedition. Hawks can accelerate quickly to reach speeds of up to 120 mph when hunting prey, despite their typical slower pace. Read more about them!

    Hawks:

    Hawks are slower than falcons but are comparatively agile and can reach high speeds in an emergency. Eagles, for instance, depend on the simple fact that they are designed to fly smoothly and remain airborne for long. They usually have sharp claws to grab their food once they have dived on it from a height or jumped from a branch. Hawks are most specialized for explosive, more controlled power in short bursts compared to the phenomenal speed of falcons.

    Falcons: 

    When it comes to speed, falcons are considered to be the fastest animals ever known to man. The peregrine falcon is regarded as the fastest bird in the world and can attain diving speeds as high as 240 miles per hour using a stoop method. Preferably, this ability to dive at such high speed helps Falcons catch birds in flight; thus, their prey includes other birds. 

    Hunting And Killing Methods

    While hunting and killing their prey, falcons and hawks differ methodically since falcons are:

    • Small birds of prey.
    • Mostly, picking on smaller birds and hawks as they are large birds.
    • Mainly targeting larger prey.

    Let's compare their Hunting and Killing Methods.

    Hawks:

    Hawks use their strong feet and sharp talons to kill prey. After that, it grabs it with its feet, and the target is stunned. After a hawk catches its prey, the bird constrains it with a paw. The force with which the nails are clawed along with the grip also tends to suffocate the prey or crush him to death. Hawks prefer to capture other mammals, reptiles, and birds, and most of them are ambush predators looking for an opportunity to catch their prey while perched or flying in mid-air.


    Falcons: 

    Falcons use a specialized tooth on their beak for the killing blow. They also have a feature on their beak known as a falcon tooth or a groove that enables the bird to twist the neck of the prey. This beak adaptation proves more pertinent when they get birds while in mid-air. In response to your comment, if falcons use their paws to hold prey, their beak kills prey by suffocating them. Falcons are best adapted to aerial predatory actions and are fast and precise during aerial chases.


    Taxonomy

    The natural classification of falcons and hawks helps the reader understand their differences in taxonomy and evolution. Let's outline the different classifications of falcons and hawks.

    Hawks:

    Hawks belong to two groups: Accipitrine and Buteo, which include species like sparrowhawks, goshawks, and buzzards. Accipitrine hawks, primarily associated with forested habitats, have been well-documented for their body control and predatory nature, especially in the forest. Examples of these species include the sparrow hawk and goshawk.

    Buteo Hawks, which include predators and Red-tailed Hawks, are adapted to vast open areas, like fields or plains. A wide wingspan characterizes these hawks, and they mainly glide while in the air.

    Falcons: 

    Falcons are categorized into groups such as kestrels, hobbies, peregrines, and occasionally hierofalcons.

    • Kestrels, a smaller type of falcon, hunt while perched in the air, scanning the ground below for prey.
    • Peregrines are known for their speed and have been considered masters of air fighting. Birds of prey, as is evident, are famous for their speed and flexibility in seizing their meals as they fly.

    Sometimes, the hierofalcons are combined with the falcon family, hunting large birds like the lanner falcon.

    Nesting Habits

    Falcons and hawks exhibit contrasting nesting habits, reflecting their different strategies for protecting their young and adapting to their environments. Falcons typically build their nests in unstructured, basic scrapes on high ledges or cliffs. Instead, hawks like to construct strong, stick nests in trees or big shrubs, where their young will have greater safety.

    Hawks:

    Hawks build their nests high up, safe from predators. These nests are commonly built in branches of tall trees, on cliffs, or at any other point that is safe from potential enemies. Fortunately, hawks have ecological habits of building their nests with branches, twigs, leaves, and any other item they find natural for building nests that can be reused for consecutive seasons. They usually choose roosting sites that are out of bounds for humans so that they can give their young a safe place to hatch and mature. The height and size of the nests also assist the hawks keep an eye on their environment for hunting purposes.


    Falcons: 

    Falcons often nest in tree hollows or bird boxes, usually lower to the ground. Still, some species of falcons, such as the peregrine falcon, generally build their nests on artificial structures such as tall buildings or bridges since they naturally reach similar heights to cliffs. Falcons may also feed in bird boxes or slightly low cavities. Hawks and eagles are known for territorial breeding. Although muscovite falcons breed in colonies, most can utilize existing scraping or aerie sites to raise their young and only spend a little time constructing a nest.


    Flying Styles

    The flying techniques in the case of falcons and hawks result from the differences in their body structure and, therefore, their hunting tactics. Let's compare the different flying styles of hawks and falcons.

    Hawks:

    Hawks tend to glide or flap slowly, suitable for soaring in circles. Thermal currents enable hawks to hover in the air with little effort, thus serving as a technique for searching for food on the ground. That flying facility is critical for hawks that prefer aerial hunting – though once they sight their prey, they always dive in for the kill.

    Falcons: 

    Falcons are built for speed, capable of rapid flapping and diving at high velocities, with peregrine falcons reaching speeds of 180-200 mph during dives. These birds have sharp, pointed wings and relatively compact bodies that enable them to negotiate tight circles and vibrate at high speeds, relevant to their airborne predatory nature.

    Conclusion

    Falcons are designed for speed and accuracy and have long wing feathers, thin, slim bodies, and sharp beaks, which are ideal for high-speed hunting. On the contrary, hawks have massive muscles, broader wings, and sharp and solid beaks and claws, which enable them to defeat large animals.

    Leave a comment