Differences between Bald-Eagle and House-Finch

Bald-Eagle and House-Finch are two classes of birds that belong to the Accipitridae and Fringillidae families respectively.

Bald Eagle is a type of Sea Eagle with two sub-species. It is a bird of prey with brown plumage and white tail. The bird is not actually bald, it has white colored feather on its head. It is characterized by yellow eyes, beak, and feet. The beak is hooked and is used for capturing the prey and preening. The bird has four toes and talons on each foot. One of the toes faces backwards and helps in holding the prey with extreme grip. According to scientists, the grip of a Bald Eagle is 10 times stronger than that of an average human’s hand. The bird also has exceptional hearing and vision. Bald Eagle is famous as the national bird of the USA.

House Finch is a medium-sized song bird. It has a flat head, short wings, and long jagged tail. Also known as Linnet, the bird has a cone-shaped beak and thin short legs. The female House Finches have a blackish brown plumage all over their body. However, the male birds have reddish face, neck, and chest. This color, which they get from compounds in their diet, could vary with geography. House Finch is known as an aggressive and intelligent bird. There are about 11 subspecies of them.

Where are Bald-Eagle and House-Finch found?

Bald Eagles live around water sources surrounded by forests. They can be found near rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and coasts. They are native to North America. They exist in Mexico, the USA, Alaska, and Canada.

House Finches live near streams, in bushes and thickets, and at grasslands, open forests, cities, and suburbs. They are native to western parts of North America, but have been introduced in the eastern regions, the USA, Mexico, and southern Canada.

What do Bald-Eagle and House-Finch eat?

Bald Eagles chiefly eat fish. They also hunt snakes, turtles, small ducks, gulls, geese, lambs, foxes, dogs, rodents, rabbits, and crabs. These birds are also known to eat dead animals and abduct the prey from other animals.

House Finches are mostly herbivores. Their diet chiefly comprises of seeds, berries, cactus, grains, fruits, buds, nuts, and other vegetation. Occasionally, the birds may eat tiny insects.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Bald-Eagle and House-Finch

• Bald-Eagle do eat Fish while House-Finch may not eat Fish.
• Bald-Eagle do eat Frogs while House-Finch may not eat Frogs.
• Bald-Eagle do eat Lizards while House-Finch may not eat Lizards.
• Bald-Eagle do eat Snakes while House-Finch may not eat Snakes.
• Bald-Eagle do eat Turtles while House-Finch may not eat Turtles.
• Bald-Eagle do eat Squirrels while House-Finch may not eat Squirrels.
• Gophers are commonly eaten by Bald-Eagle while House-Finch do not eat Gophers.
• Baby Ducks are commonly eaten by Bald-Eagle while House-Finch do not eat Baby Ducks.
• Bald-Eagle do eat Mice while House-Finch may not eat Mice.

Size of Bald-Eagle and House-Finch?

When it comes to size, The overall size of a Bald Eagle is 2.8-3.5 feet. It has a wingspan of six to eight feet.. The average length of House Finches is five to six inches. The birds have a wingspan of about eight to 10 inches.

Bald Eagles are enormous birds. They weigh 7-15 pounds. while House Finches are small birds. They weigh 0.66-0.77 ounces.

Where do Bald-Eagle and House-Finch nest?

Bald Eagles build the largest nests among all birds in the world. Known as eyries, these nests are four to five feet wide and about two feet deep. They weight up to one ton. Some nests can be double this size. They are made by interweaving sticks and branches, while soft material like grass, feathers, and moss are used inside. Nests are generally positioned on top of large trees in the vicinity of water sources. The eggs are a pale white and shaped oval. Both partners share the task of incubating the eggs for about 35 days. The young ones fledge when they are eight to 14 weeks old.

House Finches build their nests in tree cavities, branches, bushes, ridges, nest boxes, street lamps, chimneys, or corners of buildings. It is the female that usually constructs the nests. She uses dried grass, stems, twigs, leaves, and feathers for the purpose. The nests are generally three to seven inches wide and about two inches deep. The eggs of House Finches are bluish white with dark speckles. The female House Finch incubates them for about two weeks. When the nestlings hatch, both parents engage in feeding them. They are generally fed with soft fly larvae. The young ones fledge when they are 12-15 days old.

How long do Bald-Eagle and House-Finch live?

The average lifespan of Bald Eagles is 20-30 years in the wild. Their life is threatened by illegal hunting, lead poisoning, electrocution, and loss of habitat. The oldest lived Bald Eagle was 38 years old. It died in 2015 due to collision with a car.

House Finches live for up to 11 years in the wild. The oldest known House Finch lived for 11 years and seven months.

Are Bald-Eagle or House-Finch migratory birds?

Bald Eagles usually reside in their territories throughout the year. The ones living in Canada and Alaska travel south to spend the winters in central and southern parts of USA.

House Finches in the western parts of North America are mostly residents. The ones from the east of the continent and south-eastern Canada migrate southward during winters.

Do Bald-Eagle and House-Finch fly in flocks?

A flock of Bald Eagles is called a congregation or convocation. The birds are solitary. In winters, they may roost in groups to keep themselves warm. They fly alone even during migration.

A flock of House Finches is known as charming or trembling. These birds are extremely gregarious. They are seldom seen solitarily, except in the breeding season. They often forage in loose flocks on the ground or on trees. House Finches may also be extremely noisy. Their nests are generally located in close vicinity. In groups, female House Finches tend to be more dominating.

Are Bald-Eagle or House-Finch protected?

Bald Eagles are protected in the USA under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The laws prohibit harming and killing the birds or owning their body parts. The birds are also protected in Canada.

House Finches are protected as migratory and non-game birds. It is against the law to kill or harm them.

Are Bald-Eagle or House-Finch endangered?

The population of Bald Eagles had declining to about 450 nesting pairs in 1960s in the USA. The bird was listed as endangered in 1978. However, the banning of DDT and other conservation efforts have yielded good results. With an increase in the numbers of Bald Eagles to about 4,500 nesting pairs in 1995, the species was re-classified as threatened. With further increase in their population to over 6,300 nesting pairs in 2000, the species has been removed from the endangered and threatened species list.

House Finches are listed as species of least concern. They are neither threatened nor endangered. However, the birds face dangers such as predator attacks, bacterial disease, and collisions.

Can Bald-Eagle and House-Finch fly?

Bald Eagles fly by soaring high with the use of thermals and wind currents. They manage their speed by altering the position of their wings. During long migration, the birds rarely flap their wings in order to conserve energy. The average flying speed of Bald Eagles is 75-100 miles an hour.

House Finches commonly fly in small groups. They have short wings, so they are not great aviators. Their flying speed averages 15-20 miles an hour. They can also be seen hopping while looking for food on the ground.

Can Bald-Eagle and House-Finch swim?

Bald Eagles can swim but seldom do. They are mostly airborne birds. They also dive into water to catch their prey.

House Finches are not water birds. Their feet are adapted for perching rather than for swimming. However, the birds enjoy bathing and splashing in shallow waters.

Mating patterns among Bald-Eagle and House-Finch

Bald Eagles reach sexual maturity when they are four or five years old. During the breeding season, the birds become aggressive to defend their territory. Of their mating rituals, the prominent is the cartwheel courtship flight where the male and female soar high, lock their talons, and fall to the ground in a cartwheel spin. They also chase each other and perform aerial dances. The partners may copulate more than once a day. When the eggs are laid, both male and female take turns to incubate them for 34-36 days. The partners also share the responsibility of feeding and protecting the young ones. The eaglets are ready to fledge when they are about 12 weeks old.

House Finches reach sexually maturity when they are about a year old. During courtship, the female beseeches to be fed by the male. The male feeds the partner, performs several aerial displays, and sings melodiously. The male House Finch’s courtship habit of singing while fluttering the wings and gently gliding down is unique to House Finches. This is referred to as butterfly flight. The male is also protective of his partner. He defends his mate and the nesting territory. House Finches raise three or more broods every year. Each clutch consists of two to six eggs. While the female builds the nest and incubates the eggs, she is supported by the male who feeds her from courtship until the hatching of eggs. The partners also share the responsibility of feeding and guarding their young ones.

When is the mating season for Bald-Eagle and House-Finch ?

Bald Eagles in the south-eastern regions of USA start mating in October and pursue till February-March. For the birds in western states, mating season commences in January.

The mating season for House Finches is from March-August each year. The birds, however, start pairing in winter.

Do Bald-Eagle and House-Finch mate for life?

Bald Eagles are monogamous. Not only do they mate for life, they also make caring partners and parents.

House Finches are monogamous. They mate for life and live with the same partner for the whole of their lives.

How do Bald-Eagle and House-Finch sleep?

Bald Eagles roost communally during winters. They sleep on large trees to stay sheltered from severe wind and cold. During the breeding season, they sleep closer to the nests. The birds have a locking mechanism in their legs that allows them to maintain their standing posture while asleep.

House Finches sleep at dusk. They need 10-12 hours of sleep each day. They sleep on trees, ledges, rocks, buildings, and street lamps. The birds huddle together while roosting to maintain body temperature.

Can Bald-Eagle and House-Finch be eaten?

Bald Eagles were eaten in ancient times by Hare, Tlingit, and few other communities. However, modern laws do not permit killing and consumption of the birds.

House Finches are not known to be eaten. It is also against the law to kill them. However, some people may consume their eggs.

Can you hunt Bald-Eagle or House-Finch?

Archaic cultures hunted Bald Eagles for food by using bows and arrows, hooks, and traps. Subsequently, they were hunted for sport and their feathers. Owing to a reduction in their population, laws have been passed prohibiting any form of killing and hunting of the birds.

House Finches are protected birds. It is against the law to harm or hunt them.

Can you feed Bald-Eagle or House-Finch?

Feeding Bald Eagles in public is forbidden in the USA and Canada. In captivity, the birds are given whole fish, rats, guinea pigs, and chicken.

It is a common practice in America to keep feeds for House Finches and other birds. The feeds for House Finches include berries, seeds, bell peppers, beetroot, cabbage, and banana.