Differences between Bald-Eagle and Swan

Bald-Eagle and Swan are two classes of birds that belong to the Accipitridae and Anatidae 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.

Swans are intelligent, graceful, large birds belonging to the waterfowl genus. They have a long neck, big feet, and an orange-colored strong beak. Their eyesight is sharp and their auditory capacity is robust. They are also capable of producing a variety of sounds. Swans living in the northern hemisphere are known to have pure white plumage, while those in the southern hemisphere have a combination of white and black plumage.

Where are Bald-Eagle and Swan 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.

Swans live near waterbodies like sluggish rivers, marshes, shallow ponds, and quiet lakes. The need an expanse of water or flat land to take off and land. The northern hemisphere is home to about five species of Swans, while there is one species each in South America and Australia.

What do Bald-Eagle and Swan 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.

Swans are mostly herbivorous. They eat a variety of aquatic vegetation besides grazing on fields. While pecking food from waterbeds, the birds may also swallow molluscs, small fish, frogs, algae, beetles, insects, and worms.

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

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

Size of Bald-Eagle and Swan?

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.. Swans are the largest among waterfowls and have huge bodies. They are usually about four feet tall and measure around five feet from the bill to their tail. Their wingspan could be 8-10 feet wide. The Trumpeter Swan of Canada and western USA is the biggest of Swan species with a height of 5.5 feet and a wingspan of 10 feet.

Bald Eagles are enormous birds. They weigh 7-15 pounds. while The average weight of an adult Swan is 15-30 pounds. The males weigh heavier at 24-28 pounds, while the females weigh 21-23 pounds. The Trumpeter Swan is the heaviest among Swan species at around 30 pounds.

Where do Bald-Eagle and Swan 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.

Swans generally build their nests in shallow and uncontaminated waters where there is sufficient food supply. The nests are closer to the shore and could either float on water or remain on marshes. They are usually made of dried grass, sticks, and plant material. The partners usually take two to five weeks to build the nest. The blue-grey eggs are incubated by both the male and female. They hatch after 35-41 days of laying. The young ones, known as cygnets, will be able to run and swim within few hours after hatching. Nevertheless, they also ride on the backs of their parents and fledge when they are four to five months old.

How long do Bald-Eagle and Swan 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.

Swans live for about 9-12 years in the wild, where they face several threats like predators, lead poisoning, fishing net injuries, electric poles, and flying accidents. However, in captivity Swans can live up to 30 years. The longest-lived Swan was a Mute Swan, which died at the age of 40 years in 2009 in Denmark.

Are Bald-Eagle or Swan 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.

Most species of Swans migrate during winters in search of food sources. Some species in the wild do not migrate at all. The Mute Swans of Europe do not migrate or only travel short distances. The Whooper Swan, also from Europe, is a migratory species that starts travelling in September-October. The Trumpeter Swans migrate during winters from North America to warmer regions. The Bewick’s Swan migrates from Russia to western Europe and eastern Asia. The Australian Black Swan migrates within the country depending on climatic conditions.

Do Bald-Eagle and Swan 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 Swans is called a bevy or herd. Swans are sociable and flock together. They congregate in fields when some of the Swans find a food source. However, they follow a pecking order, where the senior birds must be revered highly. A group of Swans can sometimes be very noisy, making different types of sounds. Swans also migrate together, sometimes in gatherings of up to a 100.

Are Bald-Eagle or Swan 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.

Swans are not protected in the USA as they are not native to the land. The birds can be hunted with a legal permit. The Mute Swans in the UK are all owned by the Queen and protected from killing. Hunting and killing of Swans is not allowed in several parts of Europe. Some Japanese Swans are protected under the International Treaty for Conservation. Similarly, Black Swans are protected in Australia under the National Parks and Wildlife Acts.

Are Bald-Eagle or Swan 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.

The Trumpeter Swans were close to extinction in the USA in 1935. However, their population has recovered in the national parks. They are no longer considered endangered. The Bewick’s Swans of northwestern Europe are encountering a decline in population, probably due to climate change. Swans are believed to have existed in large numbers in India but are extinct now. A lone Mute Swan was however spotted in the state of Gujarat in 2022.

Can Bald-Eagle and Swan 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.

Swans are the fastest flying waterfowls. They need a large area of water or ground to take off and land. They fly with their necks stretched out, while beating their wings slowly. They can clock speeds of 18-30 miles an hour, and fly at altitudes of 6,000-8,000 feet. The birds are known to fly several hundreds of miles a day during migration, when they fly in groups through diagonal or V formations. Baby Swans start flying when they are about six months old. The Mute Swan is the fastest of all Swan species as it can fly at a speed of 50 miles an hour.

Can Bald-Eagle and Swan swim?

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

Swans are also remarkable swimmers. They have strong webbed feet that enable them to swim at good speeds. The Mute Swan is the fastest swimming Swan species. It can achieve speeds of 1.6 miles an hour.

Mating patterns among Bald-Eagle and Swan

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.

Swans start mating when they are four to seven years old, although they are likely to find a partner by the time they are two years old. Courtship involves partners staring at each other, nodding their heads while facing one another, and beating their wings instantaneously. The partners usually lock their necks while mating. The female lays up to seven eggs, although not all at once. Both partners involve themselves in the construction of nests and incubation of eggs. The male is more aggressive in protecting the eggs and little ones from predators.

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

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.

Mating among Swans may occur at any time of the year. However, in the northern hemisphere, the breeding season is generally from March to May each year. It is May-September in the southern hemisphere.

Do Bald-Eagle and Swan mate for life?

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

Swans are monogamous birds. They stay together throughout their lives. However, when one of them dies, the surviving partner may find a new partner.

How do Bald-Eagle and Swan 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.

Swans can sleep both on land and water, but they mostly sleep in water to avoid attacks from predators. While in water, they can sleep while standing on one or both legs. They can also sleep while floating on water by tucking their heads below their wings. The younger Swans generally sleep on the backs of their parents to keep themselves safe and warm.

Can Bald-Eagle and Swan 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.

Swans were a delicacy in ancient times. However, in modern era, they are allowed to be eaten only in a few places. In the UK, only the Royals can eat the Mute Swans. In the USA, some people eat them as hunting the bird with permits is allowed. Swans are also eaten in Denmark.

Can you hunt Bald-Eagle or Swan?

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.

Hunting Swans was common in medieval times when eating their meat was a felicity. Owning Swans in Europe was also a mark of dignity. However, conservation laws in many countries no longer allow hunting of Swans. In some countries like the USA, hunting is allowed only with legal permit.

Can you feed Bald-Eagle or Swan?

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 Swans in public is not permitted in some countries. In the UK, citizens are requested to not feed the birds with bread as it is leading to ill-health among the birds. Swans are largely herbivores. Feeding them cookies, pastries, and bread will cause health hazards like digestive and reproductive problems. At the zoos, Swans are given leaves, lettuce, carrots, cabbage, and potatoes. They are also allowed to graze on grass.