Differences between Bald-Eagle and Raven

Bald-Eagle and Raven are two classes of birds that belong to the Accipitridae and Corvidae 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.

Ravens are large perching birds. They are noisy and can make different sounds. They are intelligent birds with an ability to make their own tools and save useful items for the future. There are 10 species of Ravens. They have black plumage, dark legs, and long tail. The species living in western North America have white feathers on their neck, while those in the rest of North America, south Asia, Australia, and Africa have white or brown neck feathers. Ravens are like Crows in many ways. But their feathers are more ruffled, and their beak is larger and arched.

Where are Bald-Eagle and Raven 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.

Ravens live in open grasslands, forests, coasts, deserts, agricultural fields, and cities. They can be found across the world except Antarctica. They are heavily populated in Canada, North America, northern Europe, and India.

What do Bald-Eagle and Raven 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.

Ravens are omnivores and scavenging birds. They eat rodents, reptiles, eggs, small nesting birds, berries, fruits, vegetables, and human refuse.

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

• Both Bald-Eagle and Raven eat Fish.
• Both Bald-Eagle and Raven eat Frogs.
• Both Bald-Eagle and Raven eat Lizards.
• Both Bald-Eagle and Raven eat Snakes.
• Both Bald-Eagle and Raven eat Turtles.
• Both Bald-Eagle and Raven eat Squirrels.
• Gophers are commonly eaten by Bald-Eagle, but not by all Raven.
• Baby Ducks are consumed by both Bald-Eagleand Raven.
• Mice are eaten by both Bald-Eagle and Raven.

Size of Bald-Eagle and Raven?

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.. Ravens are usually about 2.1 feet long and have a wingspan of four feet. Some species of Ravens may be smaller. The Thick-billed Raven is the largest among the species.

Bald Eagles are enormous birds. They weigh 7-15 pounds. while The average weight of Ravens is 1.5-4.4 pounds. The Thick-billed Raven weighs about 3.4 pounds.

Where do Bald-Eagle and Raven 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.

Ravens naturally make their nests on treetops or cliffs. In cities, they build their nests on top of roofs, power lines, or billboards. The nest looks like a basket with woven sticks and wires. The male helps the female by fetching the sticks and breaking them into smaller pieces. The eggs are 4.4-5.2 centimeters long and 3.1-3.6 centimeters wide. Both partners take turns to incubate the eggs, which hatch in 20-25 days. The young ones leave the nest when they are five to seven weeks old.

How long do Bald-Eagle and Raven 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.

The average lifespan of Ravens is 10-15 years. Among the banded birds, the longest-lived Raven has been a wild Common Raven that lived for 23 years and three months.

Are Bald-Eagle or Raven 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.

Ravens are not migratory but some species from the northern hemisphere may travel south during winters. During the breeding season, some species may relocate for nesting. On a daily basis, Ravens travel about 40 miles in search of food.

Do Bald-Eagle and Raven 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 group of Ravens is called unkindness or conspiracy. Ravens may live in pairs or small groups. They are known to forage in small flocks. They also roost in colonies during winter.

Are Bald-Eagle or Raven 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.

Ravens are protected in several countries like the USA, UK, Canada Australia, and India under laws for wildlife and migratory bird protection. Some countries like France offer protection to certain species of Ravens.

Are Bald-Eagle or Raven 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.

Ravens are not endangered or threatened. They are listed as birds of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Ravens however face threats of habitat loss, poisoning, and hunting.

Can Bald-Eagle and Raven 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.

Ravens fly by soaring and gliding. They rarely flap their wings. The birds sometimes fly upside down to uphold their position in territorial hierarchy. The average flying speed of Ravens is 50 miles per hour. A wild Raven can fly up to 100 miles a day.

Can Bald-Eagle and Raven swim?

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

Ravens are not water birds. They neither have webbed feet. Therefore, they cannot swim.

Mating patterns among Bald-Eagle and Raven

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.

Ravens start mating when they are three to four years old. In the breeding season, the partners fly together, soaring and diving, and performing joyful aerial dances. Their mating ritual also includes several vocalizations, stroking of beaks, and grooming each other’s feathers. The female Raven lays three to seven eggs in a clutch. The partners take turns to incubate the eggs and share responsibility of raising the young ones.

When is the mating season for Bald-Eagle and Raven ?

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.

Ravens have the earliest mating season among all birds. The season occurs from January until May.

Do Bald-Eagle and Raven mate for life?

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

Ravens are monogamous and mate for life. They also return to the same nesting territory every year.

How do Bald-Eagle and Raven 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.

Ravens sleep on large trees, cliff ledges, billboards, or windowsills of tall buildings. They sleep while standing on both legs to be able to react swiftly in case of predator attack. The birds generally roost in flocks.

Can Bald-Eagle and Raven 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.

Raven meat is considered a delicacy in some parts of the world. However, modern laws do not permit killing of Ravens for meat.

Can you hunt Bald-Eagle or Raven?

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.

Ravens were hunted in the past for meat. Contemporary conservation laws do not allow harming or hunting of the birds. Nevertheless, in countries like the USA, permit can be obtained to kill Ravens that annoy farmers on agricultural lands and poultry farms.

Can you feed Bald-Eagle or Raven?

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.

Feeding Ravens in public is not encouraged. In captivity, they are fed worms, mice, eggs, meat, and fruits.