Bird
Bald Eagle
The fish-hunting raptor and national bird of the United States
Species group · 7 profiles
Eagles
Seven eagles profiled, from the bald eagle to the harpy, Philippine and wedge-tailed eagles. Size, diet, range and IUCN Red List status for each.
Quick answer
Eagles are large birds of prey with heavy, hooked bills and powerful feet. They are not a single natural group: 69 species in the hawk family, Accipitridae, carry 'eagle' in their English name in the IOC World Bird List (version 15.2), spread across several lineages such as sea eagles, booted eagles and forest eagles. This hub profiles seven. The harpy eagle, Philippine eagle and Steller's sea eagle are among the heaviest in the world; the bald eagle and white-tailed eagle are fish-eating sea eagles; the golden eagle hunts mountains and open country across the Northern Hemisphere; and the wedge-tailed eagle is Australia's largest bird of prey. Each profile gives size, diet, range and IUCN Red List status.
Eagles in this guide
Bird
Golden Eagle
One of the largest and fastest birds of prey
Bird
White-tailed Eagle
The 'flying barn door' of northern coasts
Bird
Harpy Eagle
The rainforest eagle that hunts sloths and monkeys
Bird
Philippine Eagle
The Philippines' critically endangered national bird
Bird
Steller's Sea Eagle
The heavyweight eagle with a huge yellow bill
Bird
Wedge-tailed Eagle
Australia's largest bird of prey
Telling them apart
Sea eagles of the genus Haliaeetus, including the bald, white-tailed and Steller's sea eagles, have bare lower legs and feed mainly on fish and waterbirds. 'Booted' eagles such as the golden eagle are feathered down to the toes and hunt mostly mammals and gamebirds. The osprey and the secretary bird look eagle-like but each belongs to a family of its own.
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Eagles: common questions
What is the biggest eagle in the world?
By weight, Steller's sea eagle, the harpy eagle and the Philippine eagle are the heaviest, with large females weighing around 9 kg. The Philippine eagle is often given as the longest.
How many species of eagle are there?
There is no fixed number, because 'eagle' is a name rather than a scientific group. In the IOC World Bird List (version 15.2), 69 species in the family Accipitridae have 'eagle' in their English name.
What is the difference between an eagle and a hawk?
There is no strict scientific line. Eagles and most hawks belong to the same family, Accipitridae; 'eagle' is used for the larger, heavier-billed species.
Which eagles are endangered?
Of the eagles in this hub, the Philippine eagle is Critically Endangered and the harpy eagle and Steller's sea eagle are Vulnerable. The bald, golden and white-tailed eagles are listed as Least Concern.