Eagles are formidable birds of prey, captivating observers with their powerful presence. These large raptors are distinguished by their heavy heads, hooked beaks, and strong talons. Found across nearly all continents, their sounds are often less understood, leading to common misconceptions.
The Distinctive Calls of Eagles
The actual sounds made by eagles, such as the Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle, differ significantly from the loud, piercing screams often associated with them in popular media. Bald Eagles, despite their large size, emit surprisingly weak-sounding calls, typically a series of high-pitched whistles or piping notes. Their vocalizations can be described as chirping, a snickering laugh, or even gull-like cries. A “peal call” is high-pitched and prolonged, followed by rapid notes, and an adult’s chatter call consists of seven to eight abrupt notes.
Golden Eagles are generally less vocal than Bald Eagles and are often quite silent, even during breeding season. When they do vocalize, their calls tend to be high-pitched, weak, and whistled. These sounds are usually functional and purposeful. Specific sounds like chirps, “seeirs,” “pssa,” “skonks,” “clucks,” “wonks,” “honks,” and hisses have been noted. Their vocal range is considered weak and shrill, sometimes even described as “puppy-like.”
Understanding Eagle Vocalizations
Eagle vocalizations serve various purposes within their complex communication systems, enabling them to convey messages to mates, offspring, and other birds. These sounds are crucial for their survival and reproductive success. For instance, Bald Eagles use calls to coordinate hunting strategies and maintain contact with their partners.
Vocalizations also play a significant role in territorial defense. Male Bald Eagles employ a high-pitched peal call to signal when other birds or humans are approaching their territory or communal feeding sites, acting as a defense mechanism. Similarly, Golden Eagles use high-pitched whistles and commanding calls as territorial warnings. Courtship rituals involve specific vocalizations; female Bald Eagles make a soft, high-pitched, repeated call when they are ready to mate. Nestlings use cheeping or chirping calls to beg for food and as alarm signals to communicate with their parents.
Dispelling Common Misconceptions
A widespread misconception perpetuated by movies and television is that eagles produce a loud, piercing scream. This iconic sound is, in fact, typically the cry of a Red-tailed Hawk, not an eagle. Hollywood sound editors often substitute the Red-tailed Hawk’s more dramatic screech for the actual, less “majestic” sounds of eagles to enhance dramatic effect. This practice started because the true eagle calls were not considered intimidating or powerful enough for cinematic portrayal.
The actual calls of Bald Eagles are often compared to chirps, whistles, or gull-like sounds, which can be surprising given their formidable appearance. Red-tailed Hawks, in contrast, possess a distinctive, raspy scream that is easily recognizable and has become ingrained in public perception as the sound of a raptor. To differentiate, eagle calls are generally higher-pitched and less forceful, resembling whistles or chattering, while the Red-tailed Hawk’s cry is a more piercing, drawn-out scream.