Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say "Seahawk" in Spanish
Águila pescadora · noun · AH-ghee-lah pehs-kah-DOH-rah
The seahawk — known scientifically as the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) — translates to "águila pescadora" in Spanish. The name literally means "fishing eagle," reflecting the bird's spectacular hunting dives into water. Some regions prefer "gavilán marino" (sea hawk/sparrowhawk).
Águila is pronounced AH-ghee-lah with stress on the first syllable. Pescadora is pehs-kah-DOH-rah. Despite being feminine, "águila" takes the masculine article "el" in singular to avoid the double-a sound: el águila.
El águila pescadora se lanzó al agua para atrapar un pez.
The seahawk dove into the water to catch a fish.
Seahawk in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for seahawk, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| águila pescadora | seahawk | AH-ghee-lah pehs-kah-DOH-rah | Default, widely understood |
| gavilán marino | seahawk | Caribbean / Central America | |
| águila marina | seahawk | informal, some coastal regions |
How Native Speakers Use Águila pescadora
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Wildlife observation
Vimos un águila pescadora sobrevolando la bahía al amanecer.
We saw a seahawk flying over the bay at dawn.
Use "águila pescadora" when talking about the bird in nature or wildlife contexts.
Caribbean variant
En Cuba, al gavilán marino le dicen así por su hábitat costero.
In Cuba, the seahawk is called that because of its coastal habitat.
"Gavilán marino" is the preferred name in several Caribbean Spanish-speaking countries.
Documentary narration
El águila pescadora puede sumergirse hasta un metro bajo el agua.
The seahawk can plunge up to one meter below the water's surface.
In educational or documentary settings, "águila pescadora" is the universally understood term.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Águila pescadora
Wrong article
Incorrect: La águila pescadora está en peligro.
Correct: El águila pescadora está en peligro.
Although "águila" is a feminine noun, it takes the masculine singular article "el" to prevent the awkward double-a sound (la águila → el águila). Adjectives remain feminine: el águila pescadora.
Literal translation
Incorrect: El halcón del mar cazó un pez enorme.
Correct: El águila pescadora cazó un pez enorme.
Translating "seahawk" literally as "halcón del mar" is not standard. Spanish uses the established name "águila pescadora" for this species.
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See Águila pescadora used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Seahawk in Spanish
- Why does "águila" use "el" if it's feminine?
- Feminine nouns beginning with a stressed "a" or "ha" take the masculine article "el" in the singular to avoid an awkward vowel clash. The noun itself remains feminine, so adjectives still agree in the feminine: el águila blanca.
- Is "águila pescadora" the same bird as an osprey?
- The seahawk and the osprey are the same bird (Pandion haliaetus), and in Spanish, "águila pescadora" covers both English names.
- Would a Spanish speaker understand "seahawk" as a sports reference?
- Most Spanish speakers would associate "águila pescadora" with the bird. For the NFL team, fans typically keep the English name "Seahawks" or say "los Halcones Marinos de Seattle" informally.