There are about 60 species of hawk, classified within five genera: Micronisus, Erythrotriorchis, Accipiter, Megatriorchis and Urotriorchis. Falcons are only the birds of the genus Falco, with 37 species distributed worldwide. However, hawks and falcons are members of the same order, called Falconiformes, which includes almost 300 species of diurnal birds of prey, or birds that are active during the day.
Hwaks are generally bigger than falcons. The gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) is the largest of all falcons. Bigger than males, gyrfalcon females are about 25 inches long, weight up to 4.5 pounds and have a wingspan of 62 inches. Small falcon species, such as Falco columbarius, are about 10 to 13 inches long, weigh 8 ounces and have wingspans of 20 to 25 inches. Among hawks, size differences are more extreme. While the little sparrowhawk (Accipiter minullus) is 9 inches long and weighs 3 ounces, the Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) is 25 inches long, has a wingspan of 50 inches and weighs about 5 pounds.
The beak of falcons have a notch, which they use to kill the prey by breaking its neck, often during the flight. Hawks have beaks with smoother curves. To kill their prey, hawks generally use the sharp talons they have on their feet. Falcons fly faster than hawks and when hunting they can dive at speeds near 200 mph. Despite these differences, falcons and hawks are both diurnal hunters.
While most hawks have broad, rounder and short wings, in relation to their body size, falcons have pointed longer wings, in comparison to their body size. Falcon wings are adapted to speed and dive, while hawk wings are shaped for better soaring or gliding. Although different in shape and size, the wings of hawks and falcons have long specialized feathers called remiges.