Falcon vs. Hawk: A Birdwatcher’s Guide to Raptor Identification

The Quick Answer

At first glance, hawks and falcons might look like they could be in the same family reunion, but look closer, and you’ll see some key differences.

Generally, hawks are the beefier relatives, sporting broader, rounded wings and long tails, using their muscle to nab small mammals.

Falcons, on the other hand, are the sprinters of the bird world—smaller, faster, with sleek pointed wings and straight-edged tails, designed for high-speed chases after avian prey.

Falcons tend to be smaller than hawks, but size alone is not a definitive factor for identifying the species.

Hawks tend to exhibit behaviors such as gliding more frequently compared to falcons, which have a different flight style.

These differences in size, wing shape, hunting techniques, and habitat preferences are your cheat sheet to telling these two apart.

Physical Characteristics: Deciphering Falcons and Hawks

Decoding these raptors requires a sharp eye for details. Falcon wings are tapered and slim, emphasizing their sleek design for agile flight.

Let’s break down their physical features—size, wing shape, and tail characteristics.

Size and Proportions

When it comes to size, hawks generally outsize falcons. Take the Red-tailed Hawk, for instance, which can top falcons by more than 10 inches from beak to tail. But don’t be fooled—some hawks, like the Cooper’s Hawk, can be smaller than a Peregrine Falcon. So, always check which species you’re comparing.

Wing Shape

Wing shape is another giveaway. Falcons, like the Peregrine Falcon, flaunt long, slim, pointed wings built for speed. Picture a feathered Ferrari. Hawks, like the Red-tailed Hawk, have broader, rounded wings with finger-like feathers perfect for maneuvering. Think of them as the off-road vehicles of the bird world.

Tail Features

Then there’s the tail. Falcons, such as the American Kestrel, have long, straight-edged tails that stabilize their high-speed pursuits. Hawks, like the Broad-winged Hawk, sport long, rounded tails that help with steering during flight. It’s like comparing a javelin to a kite.

Hunting Techniques

Beyond their looks, hawks and falcons exhibit distinct hunting styles that highlight their unique adaptations and strategies for survival.

Falcons’ Aerial Pursuit

Falcons are the aerial assassins of the bird world. Falcons hunt primarily other birds and bats, relying on their incredible speed and agility.

Falcons kill using their unique anatomical feature, a notch or “tomial tooth” on their beak, which allows them to deliver a precise killing blow to their prey’s neck or spine.

This adaptation is essential for quickly immobilizing their catch mid-air.

The Peregrine Falcon, for example, dives at speeds exceeding 200 mph in a hunting technique known as the stoop, where it tucks its wings and plunges down to strike unsuspecting prey.

This high-speed pursuit and powerful strike ensure a successful hunt.

Hawks’ Perch and Ambush Tactics

Hawks, on the other hand, are the masters of the strategic strike.

Hawks hunt by employing their exceptional eyesight, capable of spotting prey from great distances, to identify potential meals.

Hawks utilize several hunting methods, including ‘perch hunting,’ where they patiently watch from a high vantage point before swooping down with deadly precisiont.

Their sharp talons are their primary weapons, used to capture and kill a variety of prey, including small mammals, reptiles, and other birds.

Some hawks, like the Northern Harrier, hunt by flying low over fields to flush out and ambush prey, showcasing their versatility and adaptability.

These diverse hunting techniques reflect the evolutionary adaptations that enable hawks and falcons to thrive in their respective environments, highlighting the fascinating complexity of these raptors’ survival strategies.

Speed and Flight Patterns

The speed and flight patterns of these raptors highlight their uniqueness. Falcons are the speedsters; hawks are the gliders.

Falcons’ Speed

Falcons, the speed demons of the bird world, are built for velocity. With their sleek, pointed wings and streamlined bodies, their flight is direct and powerful, designed for high-speed pursuits and rapid maneuvers as they chase down prey mid-air.

Take, for example, the American Kestrel, a smaller falcon known for its swift, agile flight. The Kestrel often hovers in place before diving down on its prey, showcasing its remarkable control and speed in the air.

Hawks’ Soaring and Gliding

Hawks, on the other hand, are the masters of soaring and gliding.

With broader, rounded wings, hawks such as the Red-tailed Hawk are built for endurance and precision rather than outright speed. They often ride thermals—rising columns of warm air—to conserve energy while scanning the ground below for prey.

Their flight pattern typically includes a mix of steady glides and slow, deliberate wingbeats, allowing them to cover large areas effortlessly while remaining ready to dive on unsuspecting prey with incredible accuracy.

FUN FACT: The fastest bird is the Peregrine Falcon

The Peregrine Falcon takes the crown as the world’s fastest bird. These feathered rockets can reach diving speeds over 200 mph using a technique called the stoop. They tuck in their wings and become avian missiles, hitting their prey with incredible fo

Habitat Preferences: Where Falcons and Hawks Reside

Both falcons and hawks have distinct habitat preferences that reflect their ecological niches and hunting strategies. Understanding where these raptors reside helps birders locate and identify them in the wild.

Falcons’ Global Distribution

Falcons are cosmopolitan raptors found on every continent except Antarctica.

Species like the Peregrine Falcon exemplify this adaptability. Peregrine Falcons are known for their wide-ranging habitat tolerance, nesting on cliff sides, and even thriving in urban environments.

They have adapted to nest on tall buildings and bridges, using these man-made structures as substitutes for natural cliffs.

This flexibility allows them to hunt a variety of prey, including pigeons and other urban birds, showcasing their ability to exploit diverse habitats ranging from mountains and forests to cityscapes and coastlines.

Hawks’ Varied Habitats

Hawks, while also widely distributed, exhibit preferences for different types of environments based on their species. Hawks live across the globe, excluding Antarctica, in habitats ranging from dense forests to open fields.

Broad-winged Hawks, for example, prefer dense forests where they can nest in tall trees, while Red-tailed Hawks are often found in open spaces like fields, deserts, and scrublands where they can easily spot and capture prey.

These birds rely on high perches, such as trees and telephone poles, to survey their surroundings.

Some species, like the Cooper’s Hawk, have adapted well to suburban and even urban areas, nesting in wooded parks and hunting smaller birds at backyard feeders.

This adaptability highlights the ecological versatility of hawks, allowing them to thrive in various landscapes from rural to urban.

Ecological Niches and Adaptations

The habitat preferences of falcons and hawks are closely tied to their hunting strategies and ecological roles.

Falcons, with their need for high-speed aerial pursuits, often choose habitats that provide open skies and high perches for spotting prey from a distance.

Hawks, with their diverse hunting techniques ranging from soaring to ambush predation, select environments that offer ample perches and clear visibility for hunting.

These preferences ensure that both groups of raptors can effectively find and capture their prey, maintaining their roles as apex predators in their respective ecosystems.

Diet and Prey Selection

Falcons and hawks are both fierce predators, but their diets and hunting styles have some key differences.

Falcons’ Bird-Based Meals

Falcons are versatile hunters primarily targeting birds and small mammals. They often hunt birds like quails and pigeons mid-air, using their incredible speed and agility.

Small mammals such as rabbits, gophers, and squirrels are also on the menu.

On occasion, falcons can take down larger prey like geese or even young foxes, though this is less common.

Falcons are strictly carnivorous and consume only meat. They typically eat their prey whole, but they’re also known to tear off pieces with their sharp beaks, which are specially notched for cutting through flesh. 

Hawks’ Varied Menu

Hawks have a broader diet that includes a wide range of small mammals like rats, gophers, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, and rabbits.

They are also opportunistic feeders, consuming reptiles such as snakes and lizards, as well as fish, frogs, and large insects.

Hawks are equipped with sharp talons and excellent vision, allowing them to spot and capture prey from high above. Like falcons, hawks are strictly carnivorous, eating practically anything smaller than themselves that they can catch. But, while stories of hawks carrying off small pets or chickens are common, such incidents are actually pretty rare. 

Nesting and Reproduction

Nesting habits and reproductive behaviors offer more clues about these raptors.

Falcons’ Nesting Preferences

Falcons are all about simplicity. Rather than building elaborate nests, they often choose high, hard-to-reach spots like cliff ledges or tall buildings in urban areas.

Their “nests” are usually just shallow scrapes in dirt or gravel—no frills, just function.

Falcons like the American Kestrel may also nest in tree cavities or even take up residence in man-made nest boxes. They’re all about using what’s already there, keeping things minimal and high off the ground.

Hawks’ Nesting Preferences

Hawks, on the other hand, are more into home construction.

They build large, sturdy stick nests high in trees or on cliffs, preferring spots with a good view of the surrounding area.

These nests may be reused and expanded year after year, becoming massive over time.

Hawks like the Cooper’s Hawk might opt for a more hidden approach, tucking their nests in dense foliage close to a tree trunk. Unlike falcons, hawks tend to put effort into nest building, adding fresh materials each season and fiercely defending their sites.

Whether you’re spotting a simple scrape high on a ledge or a massive stick nest in a tree, knowing these nesting habits gives you a great clue as to whether you’re looking at a hawk or a falcon.

Great Books About Hawks and Falcons

Passionate about learning more about these remarkable creatures? Dive into these highly recommended books!