[birding] odd plumage Bald Eagle

[David Irons]

Hi Cheryl,

This bird is likely a 3rd year bird. Sibley illustrates this age in his initial big book field guide and it looks much like your image.  I also have another source that has a similar looking painting which calls the bird 2.5 years old. It takes Bald Eagles seven years to reach full maturity with the clean white tail and clean white head. In between there are a bunch of different looks.

Dave Irons
Eugene, OR

From: dirtgirl16cr125 at MSN.COM
To: list at midvalleybirding.org
Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:16:55 -0800
Subject: [birding] odd plumage Bald Eagle










I found this Eagle today on Tangent Drive near my house.  It had a 
remarkable amount of white especially on the back/nape area and underwing.  
I was only able to get a picture of the one view.  I was wondering if this 
was an odd plumage or just somewhere along the normal schedule of changes to 
adult plumage?
 
Please take a look at the following link.
 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vgswallow16/3298227767/
 
Cheryl Whelchel
Tangent
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