Difference Wiki

Hawk vs. Falcon

The main difference between Hawk and Falcon is that Hawk is bigger with wider wings that are rounded from ends, whereas Falcon is smaller in size with long wings that are lean and have pointed ends.

Key Differences

The size of a hawk is larger, varies from (30 to 35 cm) on the flip side the size of a falcon is comparatively smaller, varies from (25 to 30 cm).
The beak of a hawk is normally curvy; on the other hand, the beak of falcon contains a notch.
Samantha Walker
Apr 23, 2020
The number species of the hawk are more than 250; on the other hand, the falcon has 37 species.
On observation of the head from a diagonal angle, the shape of the hawk's head is smooth and pointed, whereas the falcon's head is small and round.
The wings of the hawk are shorter and wider, which are round from ends, but the wings of falcon are leaner, long, which have pointy ends.
Janet White
Apr 23, 2020
The hawk grabs and kills its prey by the help of claws, called talons; conversely, the falcon grabs its prey with the help of beak.
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The nests of hawks are large that are usually present on rocky cliffs and trees; on the other hand, the nests of falcon are present on manufactured structures like buildings and towers.
Samantha Walker
Apr 23, 2020
The flight pattern of hawks is slow as they flap their wings slowly, and they use to glide more; conversely, the falcons have faster flight patterns as they flap their wings quickly, and they use to glide for a short time.
The white and blue color differentiates the eggs of hawks with brown marks on them whereas, the white color with brown marks differentiates the eggs of the falcon.
Janet White
Apr 23, 2020
Hawks lay two to seven eggs, while falcons lay three to four eggs.

Comparison Chart

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It is a species of bird that belongs to Accipitrinae family with wide, rounded wings and a long tail.
It is a species of bird that belongs to Falconidae family with long, pointed wings and a long tail.

Species

About 250
About 37
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Size

Varies 30 to 35 cm
Varies 25 to 30 cm

Wings

Wide wings with rounded ends
Long, lean wings with pointed ends

Beak

A curve on the beak
A notch on the beak
Harlon Moss
Apr 23, 2020

Flight Pattern

Beat wings steadily and use to glide more
Flap wings frequently and use o glide for a short time
Janet White
Apr 23, 2020

Grabbing Prey

By using talons
By using beaks
Aimie Carlson
Apr 23, 2020

Head

Sleek and pointed
Short and rounded
Harlon Moss
Apr 23, 2020
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Color

The top is grey to reddish-brown, and the bottom is white
Black, silver, white or red
Harlon Moss
Apr 23, 2020

Prey

Rabbits, rats, mice, gophers, and grasshoppers
Birds like doves and pigeons
Samantha Walker
Apr 23, 2020

Nesting

On trees and rocky cliffs
On tower and buildings
Harlon Moss
Apr 23, 2020

Hawk and Falcon Definitions

Hawk

Any of various birds of prey, especially of the genera Accipiter and Buteo in the family Accipitridae, characteristically having a short hooked bill and strong claws used for seizing.

Falcon

Any of various birds of prey of the family Falconidae and especially of the genus Falco, having a short, curved beak and long, pointed, powerful wings adapted for swift flight.

Hawk

Any of various similar birds of prey.

Falcon

Any of several birds of these or related species, such as hawks, trained to hunt small game.

Hawk

A person who preys on others; a shark.

Falcon

A female bird of this type used in falconry.

Hawk

One who demonstrates an actively aggressive or combative attitude, as in an argument.

Falcon

A small cannon in use from the 15th to the 17th century.

Hawk

A person who favors military force or action in order to carry out foreign policy.

Falcon

Any bird of the genus Falco, all of which are birds of prey.

Hawk

An audible effort to clear the throat by expelling phlegm.

Falcon

(falconry) A female such bird, a male being a tiercel.

Hawk

To hunt with trained hawks.

Falcon

(historical) A light cannon used from the 15th to the 17th century; a falconet.

Hawk

To swoop and strike in the manner of a hawk
"It was fun to watch the scattered snail kites ... lifting and falling in the wind as they hawked across the shining grass and water" (Peter Matthiessen).

Falcon

To hunt with a falcon or falcons.

Hawk

To peddle goods aggressively, especially by calling out.

Falcon

One of a family (Falconidæ) of raptorial birds, characterized by a short, hooked beak, strong claws, and powerful flight.
In the language of falconry, the female peregrine (Falco peregrinus) is exclusively called the falcon.

Hawk

To peddle (goods) aggressively, especially by calling out.

Falcon

An ancient form of cannon.

Hawk

To clear or attempt to clear the throat by or as if by coughing up phlegm.

Falcon

Diurnal birds of prey having long pointed powerful wings adapted for swift flight

Hawk

To clear the throat of (phlegm).

Falcon

Hunt with falcons;
The Arabs like to falcon in the desert

Hawk

A diurnal predatory bird of the family Accipitridae, smaller than an eagle.
It is illegal to hunt hawks or other raptors in many parts of the world.

Hawk

Any diurnal predatory terrestrial bird of similar size and appearance to the accipitrid hawks, such as a falcon.

Hawk

(entomology) Any of various species of dragonfly of the genera Apocordulia and Austrocordulia, endemic to Australia.

Hawk

(politics) An advocate of aggressive political positions and actions.

Hawk

(game theory) An uncooperative or purely-selfish participant in an exchange or game, especially when untrusting, acquisitive or treacherous. Refers specifically to the Prisoner's Dilemma, alias the Hawk-Dove game.

Hawk

A plasterer's tool, made of a flat surface with a handle below, used to hold an amount of plaster prior to application to the wall or ceiling being worked on: a mortarboard.

Hawk

A noisy effort to force up phlegm from the throat.

Hawk

(transitive) To hunt with a hawk.

Hawk

(intransitive) To make an attack while on the wing; to soar and strike like a hawk.
To hawk at flies

Hawk

(transitive) To sell; to offer for sale by outcry in the street; to carry (merchandise) about from place to place for sale; to peddle.
The vendors were hawking their wares from little tables lining either side of the market square.

Hawk

To expectorate, to cough up something from one's throat.

Hawk

To try to cough up something from one's throat; to clear the throat loudly.
Grandpa sat on the front porch, hawking and wheezing, as he packed his pipe with cheap tobacco.

Hawk

One of numerous species and genera of rapacious birds of the family Falconidæ. They differ from the true falcons in lacking the prominent tooth and notch of the bill, and in having shorter and less pointed wings. Many are of large size and grade into the eagles. Some, as the goshawk, were formerly trained like falcons. In a more general sense the word is not infrequently applied, also, to true falcons, as the sparrow hawk, pigeon hawk, duck hawk, and prairie hawk.

Hawk

An effort to force up phlegm from the throat, accompanied with noise.

Hawk

A small board, with a handle on the under side, to hold mortar.

Hawk

To catch, or attempt to catch, birds by means of hawks trained for the purpose, and let loose on the prey; to practice falconry.
A falconer Henry is, when Emma hawks.

Hawk

To make an attack while on the wing; to soar and strike like a hawk; - generally with at; as, to hawk at flies.
A falcon, towering in her pride of place,Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed.

Hawk

To clear the throat with an audible sound by forcing an expiratory current of air through the narrow passage between the depressed soft palate and the root of the tongue, thus aiding in the removal of foreign substances.

Hawk

To raise by hawking, as phlegm.

Hawk

To offer for sale by outcry in the street; to carry (merchandise) about from place to place for sale; to peddle; as, to hawk goods or pamphlets.
His works were hawked in every street.

Hawk

Diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail

Hawk

An advocate of an aggressive policy on foreign relations

Hawk

A square board with a handle underneath; used by masons to hold or carry mortar

Hawk

Sell or offer for sale from place to place

Hawk

Hunt with hawks;
The Arabs like to hawk in the desert

Hawk

Clear mucus or food from one's throat;
He cleared his throat before he started to speak

Hawk vs. Falcon

The flight pattern of hawks is slow as they flap their wings frequently and steadily, and they use to glide more, but the falcons have faster flight patterns comparatively as they flap their wings quickly, and they use to glide for a short moment.

The size of a hawk is larger, and it varies from 30 to 35 cm, but the size of a falcon is comparatively smaller which, varies from 25 to 30 cm. The significance of hawk involves its remarkable eyesight and the potential of hunting, whereas the fastest flying ability of about 300 km per hour makes falcon significant.

The wings of the hawk are shorter and wider, which are round from ends; therefore, they fly slower, but the wings of falcon are leaner, long which have pointy ends; therefore, the fastest flying bird recorded is a peregrine falcon with 60 mph speed and gliding 200 mph. The beak of a hawk is normally curvy, but the beak of falcon contains a notch that helps them to grab and stab their prey.

The hawk grabs and kills prey by the help of claws, which are called nails, whereas the falcon grabs its prey with the help of beak. If the head is observed from a diagonal angle, the shape of the hawk’s head is smooth and pointed, including accipiters, buteos, whereas the falcon’s head is small and round. The color variations in the hawk species vary from grey to reddish from above and white from below of body, but the falcon color varies from black to silver, white or red.

What is Hawk?

A hawk is a specie of bird that is a member of the Accipitridae family, which includes some breeds like Accipiter, Megatriorchis, Micronisus, and Melierax. The class Accipiter includes one of the commonest hawks, e.g., sparrowhawks, goshawks, and sharp-shinned hawks. But the Accipiter hawks are the most common ones being the largest genus.

Hawks are habitats of woodlands, and the main characteristics include long tail and very sharp eyesight. The hunting abilities of Hawk also include the hurling of a hidden fish. According to Louis Lefebvre, a Canadian ornithologist discovered a way to estimate bird’s IQ level by calculating its revolution related to habits of feeding, and they were declared most intelligent among birds.

Hawks are heavily populated as they are present worldwide other than Antarctica. There are about 270 species of Hawk, and their size varies from one specie to others, measuring more than 22 inches length and above 5-pound weight. Among the hawks, the female hawks are bigger than the male ones.

The eyesight of a hawk has the ability of tetrachromacy, which enables them to respond to four kinds of colors; this allows hawks to respond to visible light as well as ultraviolet, polarized and magnetic field. The anatomy behind these qualities are excessive photoreceptors present in the retina and a deliberate fovea, which enlarge the visual field; therefore, it can locate 100 feet distant prey. They are day time hunters, therefore considered as diurnal animals.

What is Falcon?

The Falcon is a specie of bird that is the member of class Falconidae, and long wings characterize these species with pointed ends and strong beaks. These wings result in faster flight with effortless changing in direction and make them the fastest animal worldwide. The beaks of a falcon have the ability to crack the neck of its prey and help them to catch, claw, and rip the flesh.

The Falconidae family further comprises of other species such as caracaras, and all these species have a distinct characteristic of a tooth that is present inside the beak, which helps them to kill their prey with beaks, unlike other birds. Gyrfalcon is the largest one measure 65 cm length and weighs between 2-4.5 pounds (0.9-2 kg). And kestrels are the smallest ones (25 cm length). They manifest sexual dimorphism in a way that female size in larger than males.

Falcons have a lifetime between 12 to 20 yrs, but exceptional can live about 25 years. Generally, they possess a dark brown color, but grey can also be seen in some species as well. As they are carnivorous, they mainly feed on rodents, small insects, and fish, etc. Visually, falcons have a sight eight times stronger than human eyesight. As falcons are fattest birds, the fastest speed recorded is above 242 mph (389 km/h).

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