Bald eagles and hawks are different types of birds of prey, distinguished mainly by taxonomy, size, appearance, and habits.
Classification: The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a single species of "sea eagle," while "hawk" is a broad common name covering many species (in North America, mostly genus Buteo, like the red-tailed hawk, plus accipiters like Cooper's hawks). Eagles and hawks are related — both belong to the family Accipitridae — but eagles occupy their own genera and are generally considered the more powerful, dominant raptors.
Size: Bald eagles are much larger. Adults have a wingspan of about 6 to 7.5 feet and weigh 6.5 to 14 pounds, with females larger than males. Common hawks like the red-tailed hawk have wingspans of roughly 3.5 to 4.5 feet and weigh only 1.5 to 3.5 pounds.
Appearance: Adult bald eagles are unmistakable, with a dark brown body, white head and tail, and a large yellow hooked beak. Hawks vary widely in coloring by species but are typically brown, mottled, or reddish (as in the red-tailed hawk's namesake tail), without the bald eagle's distinctive white head.
Diet and hunting style: Bald eagles primarily eat fish, snatching prey from water surfaces, and will also scavenge carrion and steal food from other birds. Hawks more often hunt small mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects on land, using speed and agility to chase prey through fields or forests.
Habitat: Bald eagles are usually found near large bodies of water — lakes, rivers, and coastlines — since fish make up most of their diet. Hawks are more habitat-flexible, living in forests, grasslands, deserts, and even urban areas.
Sound: Despite popular depictions, the bald eagle's actual call is a high-pitched, somewhat weak chirping or whistling; the powerful screech often heard in movies attributed to eagles is usually a red-tailed hawk's cry dubbed over eagle footage.
In short, bald eagles are a specific, larger, fish-eating species with iconic white-and-brown plumage, while hawks are a diverse group of generally smaller raptors with varied appearances and hunting habits.