[birding] The real link to the questioned bird- immature bald or golden?

[David Irons]

This is an immature Bald Eagle for the following reasons:

1. Amount of white in the wing linings -- Immature Golden Eagles have underwings that are mostly dark aside from a circular white window at the base of each set of primaries.

2. Head Pattern -- Though tough to see, you can see some light coloration and the hint of a dark line through the eye on this bird. Depending on age, immature Bald Eagles show varying amounts of white mottling on their heads as well as a dark swath through the eye area.  

3. Head Projection -- Golden Eagles have proportionally smaller head and shorter necks than Bald Eagles. In soaring birds, Golden Eagles look almost headless, with very little head and neck projecting in front of the wing. Bald Eagles show quite a bit of head and neck sticking out in from of the wing. This bird shows this look pretty well.

In general, the white on an imm. Golden Eagle has a distinct pattern that includes a broad white band at the base of the tail (easily seen in flight) and the two white wing patches (described above). Immature Bald Eagles show varying amounts of white mottling on the underparts, wing linings, head, and tail. This white is not particularly patterned.

Dave Irons
Eugene, OR

From: prentz2 at comcast.net
To: list at midvalleybirding.org
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:45:08 -0700
Subject: [birding] The real link to the questioned bird- immature bald or	golden?
















Somehow I got the wrong link in my email question about
whether the bird in this photo was an immature bald or a golden- here it is again,
correctly-

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3598/3350258532_95a483f894_b.jpg

 

 

The best ‘eagle in flight’ photos came from an
eagle that was in the tree to the left- the poplars are gone now. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Blatchford+road,+lebanon,+oregon&sll=44.567283,-123.25939&sspn=0.010793,0.019226&ie=UTF8&ll=44.523009,-123.008423&spn=0.043203,0.076904&z=14&layer=c&cbll=44.523104,-123.00841&panoid=l1ZH78yw3ROsVQ8IxOgKmg&cbp=12,327.3350801509869,,0,-7.65625000000002


 

Paul

PS: Thanks again Steve!

 


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