Differences between Bald-Eagle and Wren

Bald-Eagle and Wren are two classes of birds that belong to the Accipitridae and Troglodytidae 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.

Wrens are tiny song birds. They have a loud voice. The songs of these passerines are considered to be very pleasant. Hence, they are also known as musician wren, flutist wren, and song wren. Wrens are round and stout. The wings, tail, and back are brown, while the belly is greyish white. There are numerous streaks and spots all over the body. The tail is short and firm. The bill is thin and slightly bent at the tip. The legs are thin and long with feet adapted for perching. The family of Wrens includes 88 species. House Wren, Winter Wren, Rock Wren, Cactus Wren, Eurasian Wren, Giant Wren, Spotted Wren, and Bewick’s Wren are a few of them.

Where are Bald-Eagle and Wren 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.

Wrens live in open forests, orchards near streams, mountains, gardens, shrubs, and towns. Their species are spread across the world. They can be found in Canada, North America, and South America. The Eurasian species exist in parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia. The name Wren is also used for other distinct birds in Australia and New Zealand.

What do Bald-Eagle and Wren 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.

Wrens are either omnivores or insectivores. They chiefly eat insects, worms, spiders, small lizards and frogs. Some of them also eat fruits, berries, and vegetables.

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

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

Size of Bald-Eagle and Wren?

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 size of Wrens depends on the species. The smallest Wren is the White-bellied Wren, which is about 10 centimeters long. The Giant Wren, the largest of the species, is around 22 centimeters long. The Eurasian Wren is one of the smallest birds in Europe. It is eight to 12 centimeters long.

Bald Eagles are enormous birds. They weigh 7-15 pounds. while The White-bellied Wren weighs about 0.32 ounces, while the Giant Wren is around 1.8 ounces in weight.

Where do Bald-Eagle and Wren 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.

Wrens build their nests in hollows of trees, rocks, and buildings. Nests, shaped like domes, are usually made using leaves, twigs, moss, feathers, and other plant material. In most Wren species, the male makes the structure of the nest with the female finishing it up. In other species, the male constructs several nests and the female chooses one to lay the eggs. It may take one to two weeks to build the nests. Wren eggs are pinkish white or pinkish grey with brown speckles. The female takes the responsibility of incubating the eggs for 12-15 days. Once the eggs hatch, both parents take turns to feed the nestlings. The young ones will be able to fledge when they are 12-18 days old but follow the parents for few days to learn about foraging and safeguarding themselves from predators.

How long do Bald-Eagle and Wren 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 life expectancy of Wrens depends on the species. The average lifespan is two to seven years. The longest known living Wren was eight years old when it was captured for banding in 1986 in California.

Are Bald-Eagle or Wren 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 Wren species are migratory. The ones in North America and Canada migrate to the USA and Mexico in winters. They will go back north during March-May. Wrens in the UK are mostly residents. Wren species from northern Europe travel about 1,500 miles to spend their winters in the south. Even in Asia, the same migration pattern occurs. Only the birds from the northern hemisphere typically travel during winters.

Do Bald-Eagle and Wren 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 Wrens is usually addressed as a herd. Wrens are solitary birds. They forage alone or in pairs. Sometimes they can be spotted in very small groups. On cold nights, however, they roost in packed clusters for warmth. Wrens are extremely territorial. They do not welcome other birds having their nests near theirs. Some species, like the House Wren, are also very aggressive. They can even be acrimonious towards their own species, other birds, and also humans.

Are Bald-Eagle or Wren 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.

Wrens are protected under the Migratory Bird Act in the USA and Canada. They are protected in the UK as part of conservation efforts. The bird also appears in the European Union’s list of threatened birds requiring special protection.

Are Bald-Eagle or Wren 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.

Wrens are not primarily endangered birds. Some species like Sedge Wren, Bewick’s Wren, Niceforo’s Wren, Apolinar’s Wren, Fairy Wrens, and Emu Wren are either threatened or endangered. Wrens have a short lifespan, during which time they face threats such as attacks from predators, risk of dying from cold weather, and long flights during migration.

Can Bald-Eagle and Wren 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.

Wrens are active birds. They are always hopping, running, or taking short flights in search of food. When they have to fly, they take off directly by beating their wings vigorously. Wrens can fly at maximum speed of 20-25 miles an hour. In winters, some species travel as much as 1,500 miles.

Can Bald-Eagle and Wren swim?

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

Wrens are not water birds. They are also tiny birds without webbed feet. So, they do not swim.

Mating patterns among Bald-Eagle and Wren

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.

Wrens generally attain sexual maturity when they are about a year old. The male perches at the nesting sites that he has prepared, singing throughout the day to attract a partner. The female chooses a nesting site and fills in more twigs, grass, and feathers to complete the nest. This is an indication of her approval to pair with the male. The female Wren raises two broods every breeding season with each clutch consisting of three to 10 eggs. While the female mostly incubates the eggs, the male shares responsibility to feed and protect the young ones.

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

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 breeding season for Wrens differs as per species and geography. Typically, it is between April and July each year.

Do Bald-Eagle and Wren mate for life?

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

Wrens are not monogamous. The partners are bonded until they raise a brood. They usually stay together until their young ones fledge. While the male may seek another pair much earlier, the female waits until she has completed her maternal duties.

How do Bald-Eagle and Wren 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.

Wrens choose cosy and protected locations for sleeping at nights. These locations could include tree holes, bird boxes, corners of buildings, and deserted vehicles. In winters, the birds roost in flocks, huddling to keep warm.

Can Bald-Eagle and Wren 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.

There are no known instances of humans eating Wren meat. This could be because these birds are tiny with very little flesh. Further, modern laws in many countries prohibit killing of Wrens.

Can you hunt Bald-Eagle or Wren?

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 of the birds is against the law in several countries. However, Wren Day or Hunt the Wren Day is a tradition followed in many parts of Europe in the month of December. On this day, people hunt Wrens and hang them on top of poles.

Can you feed Bald-Eagle or Wren?

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.

In some countries, it may not be legal to offer food to birds at public places. At bird feeders, the best food you can give Wrens is crickets, worms, peanuts, and berries.