Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Majestic Bald Eagle And Red-Tailed Hawk Face-Off In NYC
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 23, 2020
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
David Barrett / Manhattan Bird Alert
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 23, 2020
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Bald Eagles are not terribly uncommon in New York City, ever since a remarkable comeback in the 1970s, but still... when is the last time you saw one? They remain elusive, unlike the common pigeon. However, as I type this, there is one holding court in Riverside Park. And not only that, he's in a Godzilla vs. Mothra stand-off with a red-tailed hawk. Things are eerily quiet, as the two are perched in stillness, not acknowledging one another.
David Barrett, who runs the Manhattan Bird Alert account, is updating me from the ground. "Our Red-tailed Hawks stay in the city and the parks, killing squirrels and birds," he says, "So they have different hunting grounds [than bald eagles], which is another reason it is unusual to see both species perching 10 feet apart in a park!"
David Barrett / Manhattan Bird Alert
Let's get down to some eagle facts while we wait to see where this goes. Barrett says bald eagles are common here if you know where to look, however, he notes, "a Bald Eagle perching in Manhattan is quite unusual!" Typically you will see them in transit, flying overhead, dipping down into rivers for food.
"Eagles want fish or eels," Barrett says, "But they will also kill waterfowl or small mammals. They are opportunistic. They will eat any animal they can get." Like a red-tailed hawk? Time will tell.
Barrett believes if the two fought, "in close quarters, the bald eagle wins... but in flight, the Red-tailed Hawk is faster and can maneuver more quickly, [it] can harass a flying eagle without much risk."
Refresh this post frequently for updates on these two crazy birds.
Update: They've parted ways peacefully... for now.
Tagged
bald eagle
riverside park
red-tailed hawk
hawk
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 16, 2026
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .