World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/eagle-vs-hawk): Eagle vs Hawk.

## Quick answer
Eagles are typically larger, heavier-billed raptors; hawk is a wider, messier everyday category.

## Key distinction
Eagle is an everyday name for several large birds of prey; hawk is a broader label that shifts by country. Eagles are usually larger, with bigger bills and longer wingspans, but English does not follow a single scientific line — some “hawks” are buzzards in British usage, and not every large raptor is an eagle.

## Which is bigger or stronger?
Eagles are usually larger: many eagles exceed 70 cm in length with wingspans over 2 m, while many familiar hawks are smaller; overlaps exist.

## Introduction
Eagle versus hawk is partly biology and partly dialect. Both words sit on birds of prey with hooked bills and sharp talons, but they are not twin ranks of equal standing. Hawk in North America is applied to birds British English often calls buzzards; eagle gathers several large genera such as Aquila and Haliaeetus. Size, bill bulk and wingspan trends help, yet the English lexicon will not give you a perfect key.

What readers usually need is triage: is the bird a large soaring eagle-type, or a smaller accipiter/buteo-type hawk in local speech? Tail shape, wing shape and hunting style — forest dash versus open soar — often beat colour alone.

This comparison sticks to marks you can use without laboratory gear: size, shape, behaviour and the words people actually type into a search box. Scientific names are given where they prevent a regional mix-up. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## At a glance
Everyday meaning: Eagle — Several large raptor genera; Hawk — Broad label; sense varies by country. Typical size: Eagle — Larger and heavier; Hawk — Often smaller; many exceptions in naming. Bill: Eagle — Usually deeper, more massive; Hawk — Usually smaller relative to head. Wings: Eagle — Long, broad; soaring common; Hawk — Accipiters shorter/rounded; buteos broader. British 'hawk' note: Eagle — Eagle used similarly for large species; Hawk — Sparrowhawk/goshawk; 'buzzard' for Buteo. US 'hawk' note: Eagle — Bald/golden eagles named eagle; Hawk — Buteo often called hawk (red-tailed hawk). Talons/feet: Eagle — Large; fish-eagles specialised; Hawk — Variable by hunting style. Nest: Eagle — Huge stick eyries common; Hawk — Stick nests; generally smaller. Conservation: Eagle — Some recovering; some threatened; Hawk — Varies widely by species. Taxonomy: Eagle — Not one genus; Hawk — Not one genus.

## Names are inconsistent on purpose
English accumulated hawk, buzzard, eagle and falcon long before modern genera. A red-tailed hawk in the US is a buteo; a British buzzard is also a buteo. An eagle is not simply “a big hawk” in taxonomy, even if that is a workable folk rule. Learn local field-guide names for the species you actually see. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/eagle-vs-hawk): Eagle vs Hawk.

## Size and bill as practical guides
Eagles usually look front-heavy: deep bill, large head, long broad wings. Many hawks look lighter in the head and more compact. Still, a large goshawk can impress, and a small eagle species abroad can confuse travellers. Combine size with shape and flight. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Flight and hunting styles
Open-country eagles often soar on thermals and take medium-sized mammals or fish. Accipiter hawks use short rounded wings and long tails to accelerate through woodland after birds. Buteo-type hawks soar more like small eagles. Flight style often identifies the ecological slot before the English noun does. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Which word should you use?
Use the species name when you can: golden eagle, marsh harrier, sparrowhawk. Use eagle or hawk when that is all the evidence supports. Over-precise naming from a bad photo creates false records. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Conservation is species-specific
Some eagles recovered after pesticide bans; others remain rare. Some hawks thrive in cities; others decline with farmland change. The everyday labels are too coarse for Red List logic — another reason species pages matter. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/eagle-vs-hawk): Eagle vs Hawk.

## Why the comparison matters
People search for eagle versus hawk because a wrong name leads to the wrong expectation — about danger, about care, about what lives in a local habitat. Getting the distinction right is how accurate advice and conservation reporting stay attached to the animal that is actually present. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Conservation status also diverges inside everyday labels: a common garden species and a rare relative can share a common name while facing completely different pressures. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. WARN publishes these comparisons so high-intent questions get a sourced answer instead of an unsourced listicle.

## Did you know?
The bird Americans call a red-tailed hawk is the ecological cousin of the bird Britons call a buzzard — same broad type, different inherited word.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/eagle-vs-hawk): Eagle vs Hawk.

## What is the difference between an eagle and a hawk?
Eagles are generally larger birds of prey with more massive bills. Hawk is a broader everyday word whose meaning changes by country. Neither word is a single scientific genus.

## Is a buzzard a hawk?
In British English, buzzard usually means a buteo. In North America, similar birds are often called hawks. Same broad group, different words.

## Which is bigger?
Eagles are usually bigger, with longer wingspans and heavier bodies, though naming exceptions exist worldwide.

## Are eagles just large hawks?
As folk language, sometimes. As taxonomy, no — eagles span several genera and hawk is not a formal rank that sits neatly under them.

## Can hawks and eagles kill livestock?
Large eagles can take substantial prey; most smaller hawks take birds, rodents or rabbits. Verified cases should be checked carefully against scavening myths.

## What raptor did I see soaring in circles?
Soaring on broad wings often means a buteo-type hawk/buzzard or an eagle. Tail shape, size and underwing pattern separate them — a photo helps.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/reindeer-vs-caribou): Reindeer vs Caribou.

## Quick answer
Same species — the name tracks place and domestication, not a biological split.

## Key distinction
Reindeer and caribou are the same species, Rangifer tarandus. The names reflect geography and domestication: reindeer is used in Eurasia and for domesticated herds, while caribou is used for wild populations in North America. They are not two species that look alike.

## Which is bigger or stronger?
Size varies by subspecies and sex more than by the name used; large males can exceed 150 kg, while smaller woodland forms weigh less.

## Introduction
Reindeer versus caribou is a correction page. There is not a hidden anatomical checklist that turns one animal into the other. Rangifer tarandus is a circumpolar deer whose English names split by culture: reindeer across Eurasia and in husbandry, caribou for wild North American herds. Domestication produced behavioural and sometimes morphological differences between herds, but that is not the same as being separate species.

What readers still need after the correction is real: subspecies and ecotypes differ in size, migration distance and conservation pressure. Some caribou populations have declined sharply. Domesticated reindeer herding remains central to several northern cultures. The name on the label should not hide those facts.

This comparison sticks to marks you can use without laboratory gear: size, shape, behaviour and the words people actually type into a search box. Scientific names are given where they prevent a regional mix-up. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## At a glance
Scientific name: Reindeer — Rangifer tarandus; Caribou — Rangifer tarandus. Species split: Reindeer — None; Caribou — None. Name usage: Reindeer — Eurasia; domesticated herds globally; Caribou — Wild North American populations. Antlers: Reindeer — Grown by both sexes in most populations; Caribou — Grown by both sexes in most populations. Diet: Reindeer — Lichens, shrubs, grasses, sedges; Caribou — Lichens, shrubs, grasses, sedges. Migration: Reindeer — Some herds migrate long distances; Caribou — Some herds migrate long distances. Domestication: Reindeer — Long history of herding in Eurasia; Caribou — Generally wild; not traditionally herded like Eurasian reindeer. Hooves: Reindeer — Broad; useful on snow and soft ground; Caribou — Broad; useful on snow and soft ground. Conservation: Reindeer — Varies by region/herd; Caribou — Several caribou populations declining. IUCN (species): Reindeer — Vulnerable (species-level assessment); Caribou — Vulnerable (same species).


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/reindeer-vs-caribou): Reindeer vs Caribou.

## Lead with the sameness
If a page buries the answer under subspecies trivia, it fails the query. Reindeer and caribou are Rangifer tarandus. Use the local word, then describe the herd. Treating them as a classic look-alike pair like frog versus toad mis-teaches taxonomy. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## What domestication changes
Eurasian reindeer herding selected for manageability and continuous human association. Wild caribou retain migratory and predator-driven behaviours without that management. Body size and antler shape can differ among herds, but those are population differences inside one species. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Both sexes usually grow antlers
Among deer, this is unusual and shared across the names. Females typically grow smaller antlers than males. Antler timing links to season and nutrition. It is a Rangifer trait, not a reindeer-only trait. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Migration and ecology
Some populations move hundreds of kilometres between calving grounds and winter range; others are more sedentary woodland forms. Snow, lichen availability and insect harassment shape summer and winter behaviour. The ecology is Arctic and subarctic either side of the name. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/reindeer-vs-caribou): Reindeer vs Caribou.

## Conservation depends on the herd
Species-level status does not mean every herd is secure. Habitat fragmentation, disturbance, climate-driven forage change and hunting pressure hit populations unevenly. Accurate naming helps reporting; accurate herd identity helps conservation. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Why the comparison matters
People search for reindeer versus caribou because a wrong name leads to the wrong expectation — about danger, about care, about what lives in a local habitat. Getting the distinction right is how accurate advice and conservation reporting stay attached to the animal that is actually present. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Conservation status also diverges inside everyday labels: a common garden species and a rare relative can share a common name while facing completely different pressures. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. WARN publishes these comparisons so high-intent questions get a sourced answer instead of an unsourced listicle.

## Did you know?
Santa’s reindeer are the same species as the caribou on a Canadian tundra postcard — marketing chose one English name.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/reindeer-vs-caribou): Reindeer vs Caribou.

## Are reindeer and caribou the same animal?
Yes. They are the same species, Rangifer tarandus. The names mainly reflect geography and domestication.

## Why do people use two names?
In Eurasia the usual English name is reindeer, including domesticated herds. In North America wild animals are usually called caribou.

## Do female reindeer have antlers?
Usually yes — both sexes grow antlers in most populations, which is unusual among deer.

## Is a caribou bigger than a reindeer?
Not as a rule tied to the name. Size varies by sex and population more than by which English word is used.

## Are reindeer endangered?
The species is assessed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and some regional herds are in serious decline while others remain locally numerous.

## Can reindeer and caribou interbreed?
They are the same species, so interbreeding is not a cross-species event; managed and wild herds can mix where contact occurs.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/cougar-vs-mountain-lion): Cougar vs Mountain lion.

## Quick answer
Same animal — cougar, mountain lion, puma and (in many places) panther are one species.

## Key distinction
Cougar and mountain lion are the same species, Puma concolor. So are puma, panther and catamount in most North American uses. These words are regional English names for one wide-ranging American cat, not a pair of look-alike species with hidden anatomical differences.

## Which is bigger or stronger?
Adults typically weigh about 29–64 kg depending on sex and region; males are larger than females — the name used does not change the size.

## Introduction
Cougar versus mountain lion is less a comparison than a thesaurus entry with claws. Puma concolor holds one of the longest lists of common names of any mammal in the Americas. Mountain lion, cougar, puma, panther, catamount and others point to the same tawny, unmarked (in adults) big cat with a long black-tipped tail.

The useful content after the correction is geographic: where the cat still occurs, how its prey and conflict patterns vary, and why Florida’s “panther” is a particular endangered population of the same species rather than a different animal. Name diversity is cultural history; conservation is local.

This comparison sticks to marks you can use without laboratory gear: size, shape, behaviour and the words people actually type into a search box. Scientific names are given where they prevent a regional mix-up. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## At a glance
Scientific name: Cougar — Puma concolor; Mountain lion — Puma concolor. Also called: Cougar — Puma, panther, catamount…; Mountain lion — Cougar, puma, panther…. Species split: Cougar — None; Mountain lion — None. Coat (adult): Cougar — Tawny to grey-brown; unspotted; Mountain lion — Tawny to grey-brown; unspotted. Tail: Cougar — Long, black tip; Mountain lion — Long, black tip. Spots: Cougar — Cubs spotted; adults not; Mountain lion — Cubs spotted; adults not. Weight (typical): Cougar — Roughly 29–64 kg by sex/region; Mountain lion — Roughly 29–64 kg by sex/region. Range: Cougar — Americas — patchy in places; Mountain lion — Americas — patchy in places. IUCN: Cougar — Least Concern globally; local crises exist; Mountain lion — Least Concern globally; local crises exist. Florida panther: Cougar — Endangered population of this species; Mountain lion — Endangered population of this species.

## One species, many headlines
Searches arrive as if two cats might be fighting for a niche. They are not. Editors pick mountain lion in the west, cougar in many wildlife agencies, panther in Florida and parts of the east historically. The skull does not change with the byline. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/cougar-vs-mountain-lion): Cougar vs Mountain lion.

## How to recognise Puma concolor
Adults are plain tawny with a white to cream belly and a long tail with a dark tip. They lack the rosettes of jaguars and the open-country tear-mark face of cheetahs. Tracks show four toes without claw marks in a typical walk, as claws are retractile. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Panther as a confusing word
In Florida, panther means this puma population. Elsewhere panther can mean a melanistic leopard or jaguar. Context is everything. A black panther photo from Asia is not a mountain lion. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Regional ecology differs, names do not
A mountain lion hunting mule deer in the Rockies and a Florida panther navigating fragmented swamp habitats face different prey and road pressures. Management is local. The English synonym list should not flatten those differences. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## People and risk
Attacks on humans are rare relative to the cat’s wide range but are taken seriously where trails and expanding housing meet habitat. Livestock and pet predation drive most conflict. Accurate species identity matters less than accurate behaviour advice — and here identity is simple. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/cougar-vs-mountain-lion): Cougar vs Mountain lion.

## Why the comparison matters
People search for cougar versus mountain lion because a wrong name leads to the wrong expectation — about danger, about care, about what lives in a local habitat. Getting the distinction right is how accurate advice and conservation reporting stay attached to the animal that is actually present. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Conservation status also diverges inside everyday labels: a common garden species and a rare relative can share a common name while facing completely different pressures. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. WARN publishes these comparisons so high-intent questions get a sourced answer instead of an unsourced listicle.

## Did you know?
Puma concolor may have more widely used English names than any other American mammal — a record driven by geography, not by cryptic species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/cougar-vs-mountain-lion): Cougar vs Mountain lion.

## Are cougars and mountain lions the same?
Yes. Both names refer to Puma concolor, also called puma. They are not separate species.

## Is a puma different from a cougar?
No. Puma is another common name for the same cat.

## What about panthers?
In Florida, panther means a population of Puma concolor. In other contexts panther can mean a black leopard or jaguar — check the location.

## Do mountain lions and cougars look different?
Not by name. Adults are tawny with long black-tipped tails. Individual and regional colour shade varies slightly.

## Which name is correct?
All of the common ones can be correct English. Scientists use Puma concolor to avoid the mess.

## Are they endangered?
Globally the species is Least Concern, but some populations — notably the Florida panther — are endangered and heavily managed.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/hamster-vs-guinea-pig): Hamster vs Guinea pig.

## Quick answer
Solitary night runner with cheek pouches means hamster; social daytime companion needing vitamin C means guinea pig.

## Key distinction
Hamsters are small, mostly solitary, nocturnal rodents with cheek pouches and short lifespans. Guinea pigs are larger, social, day-active rodents that need companionship, space and dietary vitamin C. They are both pets in the same shops, but their welfare needs are not interchangeable.

## Which is bigger or stronger?
Guinea pigs are much larger: often 700–1,200 g, versus roughly 30–150 g for common pet hamster species.

## Introduction
Hamster versus guinea pig is a high-volume query from people standing in a pet aisle. Both are rodents, both are sold as starter pets, and both are frequently housed badly because the species are conflated. Hamsters (family Cricetidae, several genera) are adapted to solo burrow life and night activity. Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) are social South American cavies domesticated for meat and companionship long before they became cage pets in Europe.

The welfare stakes are practical. A lonely guinea pig is a stressed guinea pig. A paired Syrian hamster is often an injured hamster. Diet differs too: guinea pigs cannot synthesise vitamin C and need it in food, like humans; hamsters do not share that requirement. Choosing between them is choosing a care system, not a colour.

This comparison sticks to marks you can use without laboratory gear: size, shape, behaviour and the words people actually type into a search box. Scientific names are given where they prevent a regional mix-up.

## At a glance
Typical adult weight: Hamster — ~30–150 g by species; Guinea pig — ~700–1,200 g. Social need: Hamster — Syrians solitary; some dwarfs complex; Guinea pig — Social — keep with compatible companions. Activity pattern: Hamster — Primarily nocturnal/crepuscular; Guinea pig — Primarily diurnal. Cheek pouches: Hamster — Yes — food transport; Guinea pig — No. Vitamin C: Hamster — Synthesises its own; Guinea pig — Dietary vitamin C required. Lifespan: Hamster — Often ~2–3 years; Guinea pig — Often ~5–7 years. Vocalisation: Hamster — Quieter; some sounds; Guinea pig — Frequent chatting, wheeking. Handling: Hamster — Small, fast; short sessions; Guinea pig — Larger, usually calmer with trust. Housing emphasis: Hamster — Deep bedding, wheel, hideouts; Guinea pig — Floor space, hay, companions. Origin: Hamster — Eurasian deserts/steppes (wild); Guinea pig — Andes — domesticated cavy.

## Social structure decides housing
Syrian hamsters must live alone as adults. Many guinea pigs become distressed without a companion of their own species. Shops that present both as identical “cage pets” create preventable suffering. Always match housing to species, not to the furniture kit on the shelf. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/hamster-vs-guinea-pig): Hamster vs Guinea pig.

## Day versus night pets
Hamsters wake when many households want to sleep. Guinea pigs are active in the day and interact more on a human schedule. That single difference predicts which animal fits a child’s routine — and which will be endlessly woken. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Diet and vitamin C
Guinea pigs need dietary vitamin C from vegetables and/or fortified feed; deficiency causes scurvy. Hamsters eat omnivorous mixes and do not share that constraint. Feeding a hamster a guinea-pig diet plan, or the reverse, is not harmless approximation. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Size, lifespan and commitment
Guinea pigs need more space and usually live longer. Hamsters are smaller and shorter-lived but require careful escape-proofing and exercise. “Smaller animal, smaller responsibility” is false for both. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Wild biology under the pet label
Hamsters stash food in cheek pouches and prefer burrow-like depth. Guinea pigs are herd herbivores of open spaces that flee rather than bite as a first response. Enrichment should echo those biologies: tunnels and wheels versus hay-fed floor time with friends. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/hamster-vs-guinea-pig): Hamster vs Guinea pig.

## Why the comparison matters
People search for hamster versus guinea pig because a wrong name leads to the wrong expectation — about danger, about care, about what lives in a local habitat. Getting the distinction right is how accurate advice and conservation reporting stay attached to the animal that is actually present. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Conservation status also diverges inside everyday labels: a common garden species and a rare relative can share a common name while facing completely different pressures. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. WARN publishes these comparisons so high-intent questions get a sourced answer instead of an unsourced listicle.

## Did you know?
Guinea pigs are not pigs and not from New Guinea — the name is a historical muddle; they are South American cavies.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/hamster-vs-guinea-pig): Hamster vs Guinea pig.

## What is the difference between a hamster and a guinea pig?
Hamsters are smaller, usually nocturnal and often solitary, with cheek pouches. Guinea pigs are larger, social, mainly day-active rodents that need dietary vitamin C and more space.

## Can hamsters and guinea pigs live together?
No. They have incompatible social needs, diets and activity patterns, and housing them together risks injury and stress.

## Which is a better pet for a child?
It depends on schedule and supervision. Guinea pigs suit daytime interaction but need stable companionship and larger housing. Hamsters need night-friendly handling and solitary Syrian setups.

## Do guinea pigs need vitamin C?
Yes. Like humans, they cannot synthesise it and require it in the diet.

## Why can’t I keep two Syrian hamsters together?
Adult Syrians are territorial and often fight seriously. Solitary housing is the welfare standard.

## Which lives longer?
Guinea pigs usually do — often around five to seven years versus about two to three for many hamsters.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/chipmunk-vs-squirrel): Chipmunk vs Squirrel.

## Quick answer
Chipmunks are striped ground squirrels with cheek pouches; “squirrel” in parks usually means a tree squirrel without face stripes.

## Key distinction
Chipmunks are squirrels: small ground-dwelling members of the squirrel family Sciuridae. They differ from familiar tree squirrels in their facial stripes, large cheek pouches and more terrestrial habits. The comparison is type-within-family, not unrelated look-alikes; the names do not mark separate species.

## Which is bigger or stronger?
Chipmunks are smaller: often about 20–30 cm including the tail and roughly 50–120 g, while many grey squirrels weigh 400–600 g.

## Introduction
Chipmunk versus squirrel is a hierarchy question dressed up as a rivalry. Chipmunks sit inside Sciuridae alongside tree squirrels, ground squirrels and marmots. Calling them non-squirrels is like calling a terrier not a dog. What people want is how to tell a chipmunk from the tree squirrel on the bird feeder.

Stripes and cheek pouches do that job. Chipmunks show light-and-dark facial stripes and stuff food into expansive cheek pouches for transport to burrows. Grey and red tree squirrels lack that face pattern, have different body proportions, and spend more time in the canopy. Once the “chipmunks are squirrels” correction is clear, the field marks stay memorable.

This comparison sticks to marks you can use without laboratory gear: size, shape, behaviour and the words people actually type into a search box. Scientific names are given where they prevent a regional mix-up. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## At a glance
Family: Chipmunk — Sciuridae (squirrels); Squirrel — Sciuridae (squirrels). Relation: Chipmunk — A type of squirrel; Squirrel — Everyday tree/ground forms. Face stripes: Chipmunk — Bold light/dark facial stripes; Squirrel — Tree squirrels usually lack face stripes. Cheek pouches: Chipmunk — Large — food transport; Squirrel — Absent in tree squirrels. Typical weight: Chipmunk — Often ~50–120 g; Squirrel — Grey squirrel often ~400–600 g. Nest/den: Chipmunk — Burrows in the ground; Squirrel — Dreys in trees or dens in cavities. Climbing: Chipmunk — Capable; more terrestrial; Squirrel — Strongly arboreal (tree squirrels). Tail: Chipmunk — Less bushy than many tree squirrels; Squirrel — Often very bushy. Diet: Chipmunk — Seeds, nuts, fruits, fungi, insects; Squirrel — Seeds, nuts, buds, fruit, fungi. Hibernation: Chipmunk — Many chipmunks hibernate/torpor; Squirrel — Many tree squirrels cache, stay active.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/chipmunk-vs-squirrel): Chipmunk vs Squirrel.

## Correction first: chipmunks are squirrels
The family Sciuridae is diverse. Chipmunks (Tamias and related) are one branch. Online quizzes that treat “chipmunk or squirrel” as exclusive categories teach a false tree of life. Better phrasing: chipmunk or tree squirrel. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Stripes and pouches
Facial stripes that continue through the eye are the classic chipmunk billboard. Cheek pouches let them move many seeds per trip to underground larders. Tree squirrels carry food in the mouth one item at a time and cache in scattered spots. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Where they spend the day
Chipmunks duck into burrows and run along logs and stone walls. Tree squirrels use trunks and branches as highways and build leafy dreys. You will see grey squirrels cross telephone wires; chipmunks rarely make that commute. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Winter strategies
Many chipmunks enter torpor and rely on stored food in the burrow. Grey squirrels stay active through winter in much of their range, living off caches. The strategies look different at a snowy feeder. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/chipmunk-vs-squirrel): Chipmunk vs Squirrel.

## Regional species clutter
North America has multiple chipmunk species; Eurasia has the Siberian chipmunk, now invasive in some European woodlands. Tree squirrels likewise vary. Local field guides beat generic cartoons. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Did you know?
The “chip” in chipmunk is often linked to their chip-chip alarm calls — sound, not woodworking.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/chipmunk-vs-squirrel): Chipmunk vs Squirrel.

## Is a chipmunk a squirrel?
Yes. Chipmunks are members of the squirrel family Sciuridae. They are ground-dwelling squirrels with facial stripes and cheek pouches.

## How can I tell a chipmunk from a tree squirrel?
Chipmunks have bold face stripes and stuff food into cheek pouches. Grey and red tree squirrels lack those face stripes and have bushier tails.

## Which is smaller?
Chipmunks are smaller than grey squirrels and most familiar tree squirrels.

## Do chipmunks climb trees?
They can, but they are more terrestrial than tree squirrels and nest in burrows.

## Do squirrels have cheek pouches?
Chipmunks do. Typical tree squirrels do not.

## Do chipmunks hibernate?
Many do enter hibernation or extended torpor, waking to eat stored food. Patterns vary by species and climate.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/whale-vs-dolphin): Whale vs Dolphin.

## Quick answer
Dolphins are whales; “whale” in casual speech usually means the larger cetaceans, not a separate opposite of dolphin.

## Key distinction
All dolphins are whales: they are cetaceans. Everyday English often reserves whale for larger species and dolphin for smaller toothed whales with beak-like snouts. Orcas are the largest dolphins. Baleen whales sit outside the dolphin group but still inside whales.

## Which is bigger or stronger?
Most animals called whales are larger — blue whales exceed 25 m — while common dolphins are a few metres long; orcas are dolphins that can exceed 8 m.

## Introduction
Whale versus dolphin is a correction page with an anatomy chaser. In science, whales means cetaceans — the lineage of whales, dolphins and porpoises. Dolphins are toothed whales in the family Delphinidae (and closely related groups in broader casual use). Saying a dolphin is not a whale is like saying a human is not a mammal because we also say person.

Everyday speech still prefers whale for the big ones, especially baleen giants, and dolphin for the familiar beak-faced schoolers. That habit is why people are shocked to learn orcas are dolphins. Teach the nested categories first, then the field marks: teeth versus baleen, beak shape, dorsal fin form, and size.

This comparison sticks to marks you can use without laboratory gear: size, shape, behaviour and the words people actually type into a search box. Scientific names are given where they prevent a regional mix-up. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## At a glance
Scientific grouping: Whale — Cetaceans (all whales); Dolphin — Toothed whales — dolphin families. Are dolphins whales?: Whale — Whale includes dolphins; Dolphin — Yes — dolphins are whales. Orca: Whale — A whale in everyday speech; Dolphin — Largest dolphin species. Feeding apparatus: Whale — Baleen or teeth (depends); Dolphin — Teeth. Typical size stereotype: Whale — Larger; Dolphin — Smaller — with orca exception. Blowhole: Whale — One or two (toothed vs baleen); Dolphin — One. Classic examples: Whale — Blue, humpback, sperm whale; Dolphin — Bottlenose, common dolphin, orca. Social life: Whale — Varies widely; Dolphin — Often highly social pods. Porpoise note: Whale — Also cetaceans; Dolphin — Different from true dolphins. Conservation: Whale — Several species endangered; Dolphin — Varies; some depleted by catch/pollution.

## Nested categories, not rivals
Whale is the broad everyday and scientific umbrella (cetacean). Dolphin is a subset of toothed whales. Porpoises are another toothed-whale group with different teeth and snouts. Charts that put whale / dolphin / porpoise as three equal peer boxes mis-draw the tree. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/whale-vs-dolphin): Whale vs Dolphin.

## Orcas settle the argument
Orcinus orca is a dolphin that can outweigh many animals people call whales in casual speech. If orcas are dolphins, then “dolphins are not whales” cannot be right. They are whales and dolphins at once because one word nests inside the other. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Teeth versus baleen
Baleen whales filter prey with keratin plates and lack teeth as adults. Dolphins have teeth and hunt individual prey with echolocation. Sperm whales are large toothed whales that are not dolphins in the everyday Delphinidae sense — another reminder that size alone does not assign the label. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Body shape stereotypes
Many dolphins show a clear beak and a curved dorsal fin; many large whales show bulkier bodies and different head profiles. Stereotypes fail for humpback versus bottlenose in a photo without scale. Use multiple marks. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Why the wording matters for conservation
Laws and headlines that say whales sometimes omit dolphins even when the same threats — bycatch, noise, hunting history — apply. Clear nesting language keeps smaller cetaceans inside the moral and legal circle people already grant to “whales.” Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/whale-vs-dolphin): Whale vs Dolphin.

## Why the comparison matters
People search for whale versus dolphin because a wrong name leads to the wrong expectation — about danger, about care, about what lives in a local habitat. Getting the distinction right is how accurate advice and conservation reporting stay attached to the animal that is actually present. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Conservation status also diverges inside everyday labels: a common garden species and a rare relative can share a common name while facing completely different pressures. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. WARN publishes these comparisons so high-intent questions get a sourced answer instead of an unsourced listicle.

## Did you know?
A killer whale is named like a whale and classified like a dolphin — the English is messy; the phylogeny is not.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/whale-vs-dolphin): Whale vs Dolphin.

## Are dolphins whales?
Yes. Dolphins are cetaceans, the group commonly called whales. In everyday speech whale is often reserved for larger species.

## Is an orca a whale or a dolphin?
Both, in nested senses: orcas are the largest members of the dolphin family, and therefore whales.

## What is the difference between a whale and a dolphin?
Dolphin names a subset of toothed whales. Whale can mean all cetaceans or, casually, only the large ones — especially baleen whales.

## Are porpoises dolphins?
No. Porpoises are a separate group of small toothed whales with spade-shaped teeth and generally shorter snouts.

## Do all whales have teeth?
No. Baleen whales filter food with baleen plates. Toothed whales, including dolphins, have teeth.

## Which is bigger?
Animals called whales are usually larger, but orcas are dolphins that can exceed many mid-sized whales in mass.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/duck-vs-goose): Duck vs Goose.

## Quick answer
Longer neck and larger grazing body usually means goose; smaller dabbling or diving waterfowl usually means duck.

## Key distinction
Geese are usually larger than ducks, with longer necks and a stronger habit of grazing on land. Ducks are typically smaller waterfowl with broader bills adapted for dabbling or diving. Both belong to the family Anatidae; swans are the third familiar group in the same family.

## Which is bigger or stronger?
Geese are larger: many familiar geese weigh 3–6 kg or more, while mallards are around 1–1.5 kg — breed and species vary.

## Introduction
Duck versus goose is a comparison inside one waterfowl family, Anatidae, rather than a meeting of strangers. Ducks are a loose everyday set of smaller waterfowl; geese are generally larger, longer-necked species more committed to grazing. Swans sit alongside both as the largest familiar group. The words are useful in parks and on menus, even though taxonomy carves the family into many genera.

Bills and behaviour finish the job. Dabbling ducks tip forward in shallow water; diving ducks disappear under the surface. Geese walk and graze on grass with a more upright neck and often announce themselves louder and in V-formations on migration. Size alone almost works — until someone meets a small goose breed or a large Muscovy.

This comparison sticks to marks you can use without laboratory gear: size, shape, behaviour and the words people actually type into a search box. Scientific names are given where they prevent a regional mix-up.

## At a glance
Family: Duck — Anatidae; Goose — Anatidae. Typical size: Duck — Smaller; Goose — Larger. Neck: Duck — Shorter relative to body; Goose — Longer relative to body. Bill: Duck — Often broader; dabbling/diving shapes; Goose — Stouter grazing bill. Feeding: Duck — Dabble, dive, or graze by species; Goose — Primarily graze on land; some aquatic plants. Voice stereotype: Duck — Quack (not universal); Goose — Honk (not universal). Migration formations: Duck — Varies; Goose — Famous V-formations in many species. Pair bonds: Duck — Varies by species; Goose — Often strong seasonal/longer bonds. Domestic forms: Duck — Many breeds (e.g. Pekin); Goose — Many breeds (e.g. Embden, Chinese). Swan comparison: Duck — Smaller than swans; Goose — Usually smaller than swans.

## Size and neck
Geese usually look like they have more neck than duck. That silhouette holds for greylags versus mallards in a park. Domestic breeds blur edges: a heavy meat duck can outweigh a small goose. When unsure, combine neck length with bill shape and behaviour. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/duck-vs-goose): Duck vs Goose.

## Feeding ecology
Many ducks are aquatic feeders — dabbling at the surface or diving. Geese are classic grazers of grass and winter cereals, which is why flocks on football pitches and farmland draw attention. Bills match the job: broader filtering or seizing shapes in ducks; stouter cropping bills in geese. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Sound and social behaviour
Honking geese and quacking mallard hens are stereotypes with holes — many ducks do not quack like a cartoon — but flock noise and V-migrations are fair goose expectations. Geese can be territorial near nests; so can swans; ducks vary. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Domestication paths
Both were domesticated for meat, eggs and down, producing shapes that barely resemble wild ancestors. Identification advice for wild birds should not be copied blindly onto farm breeds. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## Where swans fit
Swans are also Anatidae, usually larger again, with the longest necks in the park pond trio. A comparison that stops at duck versus goose without mentioning swans leaves the third silhouette unexplained. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/duck-vs-goose): Duck vs Goose.

## Why the comparison matters
People search for duck versus goose because a wrong name leads to the wrong expectation — about danger, about care, about what lives in a local habitat. Getting the distinction right is how accurate advice and conservation reporting stay attached to the animal that is actually present. Field observers should treat colour alone as weak evidence and combine it with shape, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Conservation status also diverges inside everyday labels: a common garden species and a rare relative can share a common name while facing completely different pressures. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support. WARN publishes these comparisons so high-intent questions get a sourced answer instead of an unsourced listicle.

## Did you know?
A Canada goose grazing a lawn is doing classic goose ecology — the pond is optional; the grass is the point.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/duck-vs-goose): Duck vs Goose.

## What is the difference between a duck and a goose?
Geese are typically larger, longer-necked waterfowl that graze on land. Ducks are typically smaller and more often dabble or dive for food. Both are in the family Anatidae.

## Is a swan a type of goose?
Swans are in the same family but are grouped separately in everyday language. They are usually larger with longer necks than geese.

## Which is bigger?
Geese are usually bigger than ducks, though domestic breeds create exceptions.

## Do all ducks quack?
No. The classic quack is mainly associated with female mallards and similar ducks. Many species make entirely different sounds.

## Why do geese fly in a V?
The formation can save energy by exploiting upwash from the bird ahead and helps keep the flock organised on long flights.

## Can ducks and geese breed?
They are different genera in most cases; hybridisation is uncommon and not a normal expectation in wild flocks.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/falcon-vs-hawk): Falcon vs Hawk.

## Quick answer
Falcons are pointed-wing speed hunters; hawk is a wider, messier everyday category for several other raptors.

## Key distinction
Falcons are typically streamlined birds of prey with long, pointed wings built for high-speed pursuit and a notched bill used to dispatch prey. Hawk is a broader everyday word that covers several groups — including forest accipiters and soaring buteos — and its meaning shifts between British and American English.

## Which is bigger or stronger?
Many familiar hawks and falcons overlap in length around 30–50 cm; the largest eagles dwarf both, while a gyrfalcon can outweigh a sparrowhawk.

## Introduction
Falcon versus hawk mixes real anatomy with inconsistent English. Falcons belong mainly to Falconidae. Many birds people call hawks sit in Accipitridae — sparrowhawks, goshawks, buzzards and the North American birds named hawk that British English often calls buzzards. The body plan differs even when size overlaps: falcons tend toward long pointed wings and a tomial tooth on the bill; many hawks have broader wings or the short rounded wings of woodland pursuers.

What readers usually need is field triage. A bird stooping on open ground with scythe-like wings is behaving like a falcon. A bird exploding from cover after small birds with short wings and a long tail is behaving like an accipiter hawk. Colour alone fails; wing shape, flight style and bill profile do more work.

This comparison sticks to marks you can use without laboratory gear: size, shape, behaviour and the words people actually type into a search box. Scientific names are given where they prevent a regional mix-up. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## At a glance
Typical wing shape: Falcon — Long, pointed, tapered; Hawk — Broader (buteos) or short/rounded (accipiters). Bill tip: Falcon — Often a tomial notch; Hawk — Usually lacks falcon-style notch. Hunting style: Falcon — High-speed pursuit or stoop; Hawk — Soar-and-pounce or woodland dash. Family (typical): Falcon — Falconidae; Hawk — Often Accipitridae. British naming: Falcon — Falcon for Falco species; Hawk — Sparrowhawk/goshawk; Buteo often 'buzzard'. US naming: Falcon — Falcon for Falco; Hawk — Buteo often called hawk. Kill method: Falcon — Often bite with notched bill; Hawk — Often kill with talons. Nest habit: Falcon — Scrapes or taken nests common; Hawk — Many build stick nests. Open-country silhouette: Falcon — Crescent/scythe wings; Hawk — Broader wings when soaring. Taxonomy note: Falcon — Not every falcon name is Falco; Hawk — Hawk is not one genus.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/falcon-vs-hawk): Falcon vs Hawk.

## Wing shape is the fastest field mark
Start with silhouette in flight. Falcons typically show long, pointed wings and a relatively short tail, built for acceleration and steep stoops. Accipiter hawks — sparrowhawk and goshawk types — show short rounded wings and a long rudder-like tail for weaving through trees. Buteo-type hawks and buzzards soar on broader wings and look more eagle-like at distance. A still photo of colour without wing shape is weak evidence. Watch how the bird leaves a perch: falcons often slice into open air; woodland hawks often make a short explosive dash. Combine wing shape with habitat — open cliff or estuary versus dense hedge — before committing to a name. Field observers should combine silhouette, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure.

## How falcons and hawks kill
Many falcons deliver a disabling bite with a notched upper bill after striking in flight. Many hawks rely more on powerful feet and talons to seize and kill. That difference is why falconers historically treated the groups as different tools. It is not a perfect rule for every species, and scavenged kills confuse witnesses, but it explains why bill profile appears in field guides. If you find prey remains, a clean neck bite with little foot damage can suggest a falcon; heavy talon punctures through the body more often suggest an accipiter or buteo. Treat leftovers as clues, not courtroom proof, especially where several raptors hunt the same fields. Field observers should combine silhouette, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure.

## Why the English words disagree
Hawk is an inherited everyday label, not a single scientific rank. In North America, red-tailed hawk names a buteo; in Britain the ecological cousin is usually called a buzzard. Falcon stayed closer to Falco for many speakers, which is why falcon versus hawk feels cleaner than eagle versus hawk even though both pairs are messy at the edges. Use the species name when you can — peregrine, kestrel, sparrowhawk — and keep falcon or hawk for triage when that is all the evidence supports. Over-precise naming from a blurred phone photo creates false records that waste recorder time. Field observers should combine silhouette, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure.

## Size overlaps more than people expect
Popular culture treats falcons as tiny and hawks as large, or the reverse, depending on which film someone saw. Real size ranges overlap heavily. A sparrowhawk is small; a gyrfalcon is substantial. A red-tailed hawk can outweigh a hobby. Compare like with like: open-country soaring hawks against falcons of similar mass, not a kestrel against a ferruginous hawk. Length, wingspan and weight tell different stories, and sexual size dimorphism is strong in many raptors, with females larger than males. When someone asks which is bigger, the honest answer is that it depends which falcon and which hawk. Field observers should combine silhouette, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/falcon-vs-hawk): Falcon vs Hawk.

## Why the comparison matters
People search for falcon versus hawk because a wrong label leads to the wrong expectation about speed, danger to poultry, or which conservation story applies. Peregrines and sparrowhawks face different pressures and recover on different timelines. Getting the group right is how accurate advice stays attached to the animal that is actually present. Conservation status also diverges inside everyday labels: a common town falcon and a rare relative can share a casual name while facing completely different threats. WARN publishes these comparisons so high-intent questions get a sourced answer instead of an unsourced listicle. Field observers should combine silhouette, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure.

## Did you know?
The tomial tooth — a notch on many falcon bills — is a small anatomical clue that often outranks colour when separating falcons from other raptors in the hand.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/falcon-vs-hawk): Falcon vs Hawk.

## What is the difference between a falcon and a hawk?
Falcons usually have long pointed wings and often a notched bill; hawk is a broader everyday word for several other raptor types whose wing shapes and hunting styles differ.

## Is a peregrine a hawk?
No in ordinary modern usage — it is a falcon (Falco peregrinus). Some older or casual speech blurs the words, which is why the comparison stays confusing.

## Which is faster?
Falcons include the highest recorded stoop speeds, notably the peregrine. That is a dive assisted by gravity, not a fair comparison with level flight or a hawk's woodland dash.

## Is a buzzard a hawk?
In British English, buzzard usually means a buteo. In North America, similar birds are often called hawks. Same broad group, different inherited words.

## Do falcons build nests?
Many falcons use cliff scrapes or take over old stick nests rather than building large nests from scratch. Habits vary by species.

## Can hawks and falcons kill chickens?
Some individuals of several species take poultry where opportunity allows. Identify the species before assuming which raptor is responsible.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/owl-vs-hawk): Owl vs Hawk.

## Quick answer
Owls are specialised night hunters with facial discs; hawks are the broader daytime raptor label people contrast them with.

## Key distinction
Owls are birds of prey built for low-light hunting, with forward-facing eyes, facial discs that collect sound, and flight feathers specialised for quiet approach. Hawks, in everyday speech, are typically day-hunting raptors without those owl face adaptations, though hawk remains a broad and inconsistent English label.

## Which is bigger or stronger?
Both groups span small species under 20 cm to large ones over 60 cm; a Eurasian eagle-owl can outweigh many familiar hawks.

## Introduction
Owl versus hawk is less a tidy taxonomic duel than a contrast people reach for when they see a raptor and want to know whether it belongs to the night shift. Owls form their own lineage (Strigiformes) with distinctive skulls, asymmetrical ears in many species, and feather fringes that reduce flight noise. Hawk is the everyday word for several day-active birds of prey, not a single genus, and its meaning shifts by country.

Field separation is usually straightforward once you see the face. An owl's eyes face forward in a broad facial disc; a hawk's eyes sit more laterally on a narrower head. Time of day helps but fails for day-flying owls such as the short-eared owl. Wing beat, perch posture and silence on the wing add supporting clues.

This comparison sticks to marks you can use without laboratory gear: size, shape, behaviour and the words people actually type into a search box. Scientific names are given where they prevent a regional mix-up. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## At a glance
Typical activity: Owl — Many nocturnal or crepuscular; Hawk — Typically diurnal. Face: Owl — Facial disc; eyes face forward; Hawk — No owl disc; eyes more lateral. Flight sound: Owl — Often notably quiet; Hawk — Ordinary flight noise for a bird. Bill and head: Owl — Short bill in a broad head; Hawk — More projecting bill profile. Neck mobility: Owl — Extreme head turning; Hawk — Normal bird neck range. Ears: Owl — Often asymmetrical openings; Hawk — No owl-style ear asymmetry. Feet: Owl — Often two toes forward, two back; Hawk — Typical three-forward raptor foot. Nest: Owl — Cavities, scrapes, taken nests; Hawk — Many build stick nests. English scope: Owl — Owl is relatively stable; Hawk — Hawk meaning varies by country. Order: Owl — Strigiformes; Hawk — Various day-raptor groups.

## Face and eyes tell you first
If you can see the head, start there. Owls present a broad, flattened face with eyes aimed forward, framed by a facial disc of stiff feathers that funnels sound. Hawks show a more classic bird-of-prey profile: narrower skull, eyes set on the sides, and a bill that projects more clearly. Eye colour myths are unreliable across species. At distance, the owl's big-headed silhouette on a post is often enough. In the hand or a clear photo, the facial disc is decisive. Do not rely on ear tufts alone — those feather tufts are not ears, and many owls lack them entirely. Field observers should combine silhouette, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/owl-vs-hawk): Owl vs Hawk.

## Silent flight is real, not magic
Many owls have leading-edge comb-like fringes and a velvet upper surface on flight feathers that break up turbulent noise. That adaptation suits listening for rodents under vegetation. Hawks do not need the same acoustic stealth for daylight pursuit and lack that full suite of silencers. Quiet flight is therefore a useful supporting mark when a pale bird passes at dusk, but it is not audible evidence you can certify from a silent video with traffic noise. Combine it with shape and time. Day-hunting owls still carry the feather specialisations even when they fly in daylight. Field observers should combine silhouette, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure.

## Day versus night — and the exceptions
Most people meet hawks by day and owls by night, and that rule works often enough to teach children. It fails for short-eared owls hunting in afternoon light, snowy owls on open ground, and northern hawk-owls that behave almost like diurnal raptors. Some hawks hunt at twilight. Activity period is strong supporting evidence, never a sole key. If a bird is soaring on thermals at noon over a field, it is almost certainly not an owl. If a bird is calling with a hoot from a wood at midnight, hawk is the wrong everyday word. Field observers should combine silhouette, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure.

## Why hawk is the awkward half of the pair
Owl is a relatively stable English label for Strigiformes. Hawk is not stable. British sparrowhawks, American red-tailed hawks and casual uses of hawk for any daytime raptor all collide in search queries. That is why owl versus hawk pages must explain dialect as well as biology. When you can name the species — barn owl, tawny owl, red kite, buzzard — do so. Reserve hawk for cases where that is truly all you know. The comparison remains useful because it matches how people ask the question after a brief roadside sighting. Field observers should combine silhouette, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure. Treat a single trait as supporting evidence rather than a complete identification.

## Why the comparison matters
Misreading an owl as a hawk, or the reverse, scrambles expectations about noise, nest boxes, rodent control and legal protection stories. Owl conservation often turns on nest cavities and quiet roost sites; many hawks depend on different nest structures and hunting habitats. Accurate names keep advice attached to the animal present. Status also diverges: a common town hawk and a scarce owl can share a hedgerow while facing different threats. WARN publishes these comparisons so high-intent questions get a sourced answer instead of an unsourced listicle. Field observers should combine silhouette, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure. Treat a single trait as supporting evidence rather than a complete identification.

## Did you know?
Many owls have asymmetrically placed ear openings, which helps them fix a sound's height as well as its direction when hunting in the dark.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/owl-vs-hawk): Owl vs Hawk.

## What is the difference between an owl and a hawk?
Owls are a distinct group with facial discs and many night-hunting adaptations. Hawk is a broad daytime raptor label, not one scientific genus.

## Are owls hawks?
No. Owls are in their own order, Strigiformes. They are birds of prey, but they are not hawks.

## Which has better night vision?
Owls are specialised for low light, with large eyes and hearing adaptations. Hawks are primarily day hunters with vision tuned for daylight detail.

## Do owls and hawks compete?
They can overlap on rodent prey, but different activity peaks and hunting styles often reduce direct competition at the same hour.

## Why do owls turn their heads so far?
Their eyes are relatively fixed in the sockets, so they rotate the head — and neck vertebrae allow a much wider turn than in most birds.

## Is a hawk-owl a hawk?
No. Hawk-owl is an owl named for a somewhat hawk-like daytime hunting style. The name describes resemblance, not membership.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/shark-vs-dolphin): Shark vs Dolphin.

## Quick answer
Sharks are gill-breathing fish; dolphins are air-breathing mammals that only look shark-like at a glance.

## Key distinction
Sharks are cartilaginous fish that extract oxygen with gills and usually swim with side-to-side tail beats. Dolphins are marine mammals that breathe air through a blowhole, nurse live young with milk, and typically drive the tail up and down. Similar torpedo shapes hide unrelated evolutionary paths.

## Which is bigger or stronger?
Both span huge ranges: many reef sharks are 1–3 m, while whale sharks exceed 10 m; common bottlenose dolphins are roughly 2–4 m, and orcas are larger dolphins.

## Introduction
Shark versus dolphin is a classic lookalike problem. Convergent evolution packed both into streamlined bodies with dorsal fins and flippers, so a brief surface glimpse can fool a new boat passenger. Under the skin the animals are not close relatives. Sharks are fish with cartilage skeletons and gill slits. Dolphins are odontocete cetaceans — toothed whales — with lungs, warm blood and social systems built around acoustic communication.

The practical marks are simple once you know them. A shark's tail usually sweeps sideways; a dolphin's flukes beat vertically. Sharks lack a blowhole; dolphins surface to breathe. Sharks do not nurse calves; dolphins do. Those facts settle most arguments faster than tooth counts from a blurry photograph.

This comparison sticks to marks you can use without laboratory gear: size, shape, behaviour and the words people actually type into a search box. Scientific names are given where they prevent a regional mix-up. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## At a glance
Major group: Shark — Cartilaginous fish; Dolphin — Marine mammal (toothed whale). Breathing: Shark — Gills; Dolphin — Lungs; blowhole. Tail motion: Shark — Usually side to side; Dolphin — Up and down flukes. Skin: Shark — Denticle-covered, rough; Dolphin — Smooth, rubbery skin. Body heat: Shark — Mostly ectothermic; some regional endothermy; Dolphin — Endothermic. Young: Shark — Eggs or live young; no milk; Dolphin — Live young nursed on milk. Skeleton: Shark — Cartilage; Dolphin — Bone. Sound: Shark — No dolphin-style echolocation clicks; Dolphin — Echolocation common. Dorsal fin: Shark — Present in many species; Dolphin — Present in many species. Intelligence stereotype: Shark — Sensory specialists; varied behaviour; Dolphin — Highly social; complex cognition.

## Fish versus mammal is the whole point
A shark is a fish. A dolphin is a mammal. That single sentence answers the comparison more cleanly than fin shape debates. Gills versus lungs decide where each animal can rest, how long it can stay submerged in ordinary activity, and what birth looks like. Dolphin calves nurse and must be helped to the surface to breathe. Shark young do not drink milk. Warm-blooded metabolism in dolphins supports sustained high activity and large brains relative to body size. Most sharks are ectothermic, though some large active species warm parts of the body. When a child asks which is which, start with breathing, not with which animal looks friendlier on television. Field observers should combine silhouette, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/shark-vs-dolphin): Shark vs Dolphin.

## Tail beat and surfacing behaviour
Watch the rear end and the surface interval. Dolphin flukes are horizontal and push water by moving up and down, a mammal inheritance from terrestrial ancestors that flexed the spine vertically. Shark caudal fins are typically vertical and sweep side to side like other fishes. Dolphins break the surface to exhale and inhale through a blowhole; the spray and roll are familiar boat signs. Sharks do not breathe that way. A fin alone can mislead because both groups may show a triangular dorsal fin, which is why witnesses to "shark" sightings are often asked about fluke shape and breathing behaviour. Field observers should combine silhouette, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure.

## Skin, teeth and sensory gear
Shark skin is covered in dermal denticles that feel rough if stroked toward the head. Dolphin skin is smooth and sensitive. Shark teeth are continually replaced cutting tools set in a cartilaginous jaw; dolphin teeth are usually cone-shaped and used to grip rather than chew. Dolphins navigate and hunt with echolocation clicks; sharks integrate smell, vibration through the lateral line, and in many species electrical sense via ampullae of Lorenzini. Those systems solve overlapping hunting problems with different hardware. Touching either wild animal is unsafe and illegal in many places; the skin contrast is a field fact for stranded or captive educational contexts, not a beach activity. Field observers should combine silhouette, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure.

## Danger and reputation
Sharks carry a cultural reputation for attacking people that far exceeds the statistical risk for most swimmers, while still including species that can inflict severe bites. Dolphins are often cast as gentle, yet they are predators that can injure people and other animals, and some populations show rough social behaviour. Neither reputation should replace species-level facts. Most shark species are not involved in unprovoked bites on humans. Most dolphin encounters are peaceful. The honest comparison separates evolutionary identity from media personality: fish versus mammal first, risk second, and species always. Field observers should combine silhouette, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure. Treat a single trait as supporting evidence rather than a complete identification.

## Why the comparison matters
Mislabeling a dolphin as a shark, or the reverse, scrambles stranding response, fishery stories and public fear. A mammal needing air has different rescue needs from a fish. Conservation threats also diverge: bycatch and noise affect dolphins in particular ways, while shark declines are often driven by finning and overfishing of slow-breeding species. Accurate names keep advice attached to the animal present. WARN publishes these comparisons so high-intent questions get a sourced answer instead of an unsourced listicle. Field observers should combine silhouette, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure. Treat a single trait as supporting evidence rather than a complete identification. Local field guides remain the final check when similar species share a landscape.

## Did you know?
An orca is a dolphin — the largest one — which is why shark versus dolphin arguments that treat orcas as a third category usually need a second sentence.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/shark-vs-dolphin): Shark vs Dolphin.

## Is a shark a mammal?
No. Sharks are fish. Dolphins are mammals.

## How can I tell a shark from a dolphin at sea?
Look for vertical tail beats and no blowhole in sharks; dolphins show horizontal flukes and surface to breathe through a blowhole.

## Are dolphins whales?
Yes in the broad sense — dolphins are toothed whales (odontocetes). Orcas are the largest dolphins.

## Which is bigger?
It depends on species. Whale sharks and some large sharks outsize common dolphins; orcas outsize many sharks.

## Do sharks and dolphins fight?
They can interact as predators, prey or competitors depending on species and size. Popular videos rarely show the full ecological context.

## Can dolphins breathe underwater?
No. They hold their breath and must surface. Sharks extract oxygen from water with gills.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/seal-vs-walrus): Seal vs Walrus.

## Quick answer
Walruses are the tusked Arctic giants; seal is the wider label for several smaller pinniped groups.

## Key distinction
A walrus is a single Arctic species famous for long tusks, bulk and whiskered muzzle. Seal is a broader everyday word that usually means true seals (earless seals) and is sometimes loosely applied to sea lions. Walruses are much heavier than most seals people meet, and only walruses grow those continuous tusk teeth.

## Which is bigger or stronger?
Walruses are far heavier, with adult males commonly around 800–1,700 kg, while harbour seals are typically under 150 kg.

## Introduction
Seal versus walrus pits a broad common name against a distinctive specialist. Walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) are unmistakable adults once tusks show: long upper canines, thick body, and a face covered in sensitive vibrissae used while feeding on benthic invertebrates. Seal, in careful British usage, often means true seals in the family Phocidae — harbour seals, grey seals and relatives — though casual speech also sweeps in eared seals.

Size and face settle most sightings. A hauled-out walrus looks like a blunt-headed barrel with tusks; a harbour seal looks smaller, spotted or plain, and tuskless. Geography helps: walruses are Arctic and subarctic; many seal species range much more widely.

This comparison sticks to marks you can use without laboratory gear: size, shape, behaviour and the words people actually type into a search box. Scientific names are given where they prevent a regional mix-up. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure that implies more certainty than the sources support.

## At a glance
Everyday scope: Seal — Several pinniped species; Walrus — One species (two subspecies). Tusks: Seal — Absent; Walrus — Long upper canines in both sexes. Typical adult mass: Seal — Harbour seal often <150 kg; Walrus — Males commonly 800–1,700 kg. Hind flippers on land: Seal — True seals cannot turn them under to walk; Walrus — Can rotate flippers; better on land than true seals. External ear flap: Seal — True seals lack pinnae; Walrus — No large pinnae; not a sea lion. Face: Seal — Dog-like or soft muzzle; Walrus — Broad muzzle; dense whiskers. Diet focus: Seal — Fish, squid, crustaceans vary by species; Walrus — Often benthic molluscs and invertebrates. Range: Seal — Worldwide coastal seas; Walrus — Arctic and subarctic. Social haul-outs: Seal — Varies; some dense colonies; Walrus — Often large mixed herds. Family: Seal — Phocidae (true seals) in careful use; Walrus — Odobenidae.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/seal-vs-walrus): Seal vs Walrus.

## Tusks and bulk identify the walrus
Adult walruses carry elongated upper canine tusks used in social display, hauling onto ice, and occasionally fighting. Seals lack anything like that continuous tusk pair. Body mass reinforces the contrast: a big male walrus is a tonne-class animal, while the seals most people meet in temperate harbours are an order of magnitude lighter. Calves and distant views can still confuse beginners, so combine tusk presence with head shape and location. A tuskless young walrus still shows the broad muzzle and whisker array that grey seals do not match. Field observers should combine silhouette, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure. Treat a single trait as supporting evidence rather than a complete identification.

## What people mean by seal
Seal is an everyday word with fuzzy edges. Strictly, true seals are phocids that cannot bring their hind flippers forward under the body, so they hitch along on land. Sea lions and fur seals are otariids with external ear flaps and a more walk-like gait; many members of the public still call them seals. Walrus sits in its own family. When someone asks seal versus walrus, they usually mean a true seal they know from beaches against the tusked Arctic animal. Clarify which seal before arguing about ears or walking style. Field observers should combine silhouette, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure. Treat a single trait as supporting evidence rather than a complete identification.

## Movement on ice and shore
Walruses can rotate the hind flippers to walk more effectively than true seals, which is useful on ice floes and rocky haul-outs. True seals undulate and hump forward. Sea lions walk still more readily, which is another reason casual seal labelling causes arguments. In water all are capable swimmers, but foraging styles differ: walruses often root along the seafloor using whiskers and snout, while many seals pursue fish in midwater. Trackways on sand — belly drag versus flipper prints — can separate groups after the animals have left. Field observers should combine silhouette, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure. Treat a single trait as supporting evidence rather than a complete identification.

## Diet and whiskers
Walrus vibrissae are a sensory array for finding clams and other bottom prey in murky water. Many seals also have sensitive whiskers, but the walrus face looks exaggerated because the lifestyle depends on touch at the seabed. Shell middens and seafloor pits are ecological signatures of walrus feeding in some areas. Seals leave different prey signs depending on species — fish bones, bird remains, or cephalopod beaks. Diet is a supporting ecological difference rather than a beach identification key, yet it explains why tusks and whiskers evolved together in the walrus niche. Field observers should combine silhouette, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/seal-vs-walrus): Seal vs Walrus.

## Why the comparison matters
Tour operators, Arctic communities and wildlife viewers need the right name because haul-out disturbance rules and population status differ. Walruses face sea-ice change in ways temperate harbour seals do not. Calling every pinniped a seal erases those distinctions in public debate. Accurate labels keep advice attached to the animal present. WARN publishes these comparisons so high-intent questions get a sourced answer instead of an unsourced listicle. Field observers should combine silhouette, behaviour and habitat before naming what they see. Where published measurements disagree, this page gives the range rather than a single tidy figure. Treat a single trait as supporting evidence rather than a complete identification. Local field guides remain the final check when similar species share a landscape. When evidence is thin, prefer a broader label over a false precise name.

## Did you know?
Walrus whiskers are so sensitive that the animal can identify prey by touch along the seafloor even when visibility is near zero.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/compare/seal-vs-walrus): Seal vs Walrus.

## Is a walrus a seal?
Walruses are pinnipeds related to seals and sea lions, but they belong to their own family. Everyday speech sometimes lumps them as seals; careful use keeps walrus separate.

## How do you tell a seal from a walrus?
Adult walruses have long tusks and far greater bulk. Temperate true seals are smaller and tuskless.

## Do female walruses have tusks?
Yes. Both sexes grow tusks, though male tusks are often longer and thicker on average.

## Are sea lions seals?
Casually, people often say yes. Strictly, sea lions are eared seals (otariids), not true seals (phocids).

## Which is bigger?
The walrus is much heavier than harbour seals and most other familiar seals.

## Where do walruses live?
In Arctic and subarctic marine waters, using ice and coastal haul-outs.