Difference between Hawk and Falcon
Both hawk and falcon are members of the species falconiformes or accipitriformes. However the taxonomical similarity ends right there as they are subdivided into different families and they have characters which are quite different from each other.
Hawk is a bird which belongs to the genus Accipiter and is by nature a hunter. They inhabit woodlands and they have incredible eyesight along with a long tail, shorter wings and slim feet and toes. The eyes are generally red or sometimes yellow or orange tinged. There are many hawks such as sparrow hawks, the Sharp-shinned Hawk etc. The hawks are birds of preys who limit their hunting activities to the animals of grounds. Agility is their main strength which they use to good effect by hunting their preys with short sudden surprise attacks. Whenever they spot any animal coming out of cover, they close in quickly and get their prey by grabbing them using the talons on their feet. They have smooth curved beaks.
Falcons are found all over Europe, Asia and America. They are equipped with a notch on their beak that helps them to break the neck of their preys. Falcons fly at great heights. They have thin and pointed wings that help them do so and also to change direction with minimum difficulty. A falcon soars at great heights and flies in circles while waiting for the preys to come out. Once they spot the prey, they take the plunge, gains incredible speed in the process and while hitting the neck of the prey with the beak they generally break the neck. The falcons have shorter tails and slender feet and toes.