Falcon and eagle both are predatory birds known as raptors that play a huge role in the food chain to regulate the population of other species causing diseases. These two are often confused with each other, although their roots are traced back to the different branches of evolution. Falcons, known for their swift flight and keen eyesight are part of the falconidae family that makes them more closely related to parrots than hawks. Eagles, on the other hand, form part of the accipitridae family, which includes other birds of prey such as kites, hawks and vultures. Let’s explore the key differences between falcon and eagle in terms of their appearance, speed and hunting style.

Physical Characteristics of Falcon

Falcons are smaller and lightweight as compared to the eagles. They are around 19 to 21 cm long with a weight of around 150 to 200 Kg. Their wings are long, slender and pointed to support fast flights. The eye color of falcons is dark brown and they use their ‘tomial tooth’- a sharp on top of the beak to kill their prey. They have sharp eyesight to vision their prey from a considerable distance. They mostly eat other birds and insects.

Physical Characteristics of Eagle

Eagles are large raptors with broad bodies, powerful hooked beaks and sharp talons that can survive in a wide range of habitats around the world. They are apex predators that hunt and eat mammals, fishes and other birds. Their strong talons crush the prey with an enormous force. Eagles use different hunting techniques such as, high-speed stooping, water skimming and tail-crashing to hunt its prey.

Differences between Falcon and Eagle

Learning about the physical appearance of a raptor such as the size of their body, types of feathers, beaks and talons are important to determine their hunting style, habitat and prey selection. Here are some key differences between the physical appearances of falcon and eagle:

Characteristics	Falcon	Eagle
Build	Slim and compact aerodynamic body with sharp pointed wings.	Massive and robust body with wide chest and wide round wings.
Size	Falcons are small as compared to eagles. They can grow only up to 60 cm	Eagles are big and strong and can grow up to 1 meter tall.
Eye Colour	The eye color of falcons is dark brown and they can spot their prey from a considerable distance.	The eye color of eagles is usually yellow and it has one of the best eyesight.
Beaks	Falcons have a razor sharp upper tooth on their beaks called the tomial tooth to kill their prey.	Large, heavier and smoother beaks. They do not prey with their beaks
Talons	Thin talons of falcons are optimised to grasp fast moving birds mid-flight.	Talons of eagles are sharp and robust that can kill and crush the prey using astonishing grip pressure.
Wingspan	The wings of a falcon are long and spray pointed.	Larger wingspan as compared to falcons with broad and round wings.
Hunting Style	Falcons hunt by striking the prey mid-air with its special tooth at the top of its beak.	Eagles use their talons to hunt the prey mid-flight or on ground by crushing it using force.
Speed	Falcon is the fastest animal on the earth.	Eagles are not as fast as falcons.

Frequently Asked Questions about Falcon vs. Eagle

1. How big are eagles than falcons?

Eagles are twice the size of the falcons with height up to 1 meter and weight over lbs.

2. Which bird out of falcon or eagle has better eyesight?

Both have the same sharp eyesight that allows them to spot their prey from a considerable distance.

3. Which is the fastest animal on the planet?

Falcon is the fastest animal on the planet due to its aerodynamic build with sharply pointed wings.

4. What is the ecological significance of eagles and falcons?

Both eagles and falcons are very important for our environment to maintain a balance in the food chain to regulate the population of other species causing diseases.