This article describes the age and plumages that juvenile and immature bald eagles go through before attaining the adult plumage. The Bald Eagle has been the national emblem of the United States since 1782 and a spiritual symbol for native people for far longer than that. These regal birds aren't really bald, but their white-feathered heads gleam in contrast to their chocolate-brown body and wings.
Look for them soaring in solitude, chasing other birds for their food, or gathering by the hundreds in winter. Once. The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is America's national bird and one of the most recognizable avians in the world.
These large and distinctive white-headed sea eagles occur near salt and freshwater bodies from Alaska to Mexico. Juvenile Bald Eagles look very different from adults, however, so how do birdwatchers identify these young raptors with confidence? Juvenile Bald Eagles lack. An adult bald eagle calls to mind something more like a flying board, perhaps a snowboard, though that last image overstates the roundness of the wingtips considerably.
But it looks a good deal more aerodynamic and less hulking. The tails of juveniles are also longer, which means their shape is a bit more like golden eagles. Bald Eagle Appearance It's pretty cool to know what a bald eagle really looks like, whether you're a bird fanatic or just fascinated by these awesome creatures.
So, let's chat about how they change colors as they grow up and highlight their signature look. Color Changes Over Age Bald eagles go through a bit of a color journey as they mature, with four main stages: baby, year two, year. This season, like the preceding decade of seasons, raised a familiar question in many people's minds, "how can you tell immature Golden and Bald Eagles apart, and what are those eagles with white bellies?" Well fortunately in Montana, winter is a great season to improve your understanding of eagle identification.
First -Year Bald Eagles - dark all over the first few months with dark eyes & bill. Over their first winter, they start to develop white "wing pits" and tail color but still have a dark belly. The "bald" eagle got its name from the Middle English word "balde" which means white-headed (not hairless!).
"Golden" eagles likely got their name from the top and back of their head and neck, which are a beautiful golden color. Majestic adults have blackish-brown body with white head and tail. Several stages of immature plumages aren't quite as majestic, from fully dark brown to messy and mottled with large patches of white.
Look especially for white mottling on the belly on immatures. Scavenges and hunts near bodies of water. Soars with wings flat, like a large, dark plank.
Head appears large in flight; projects far. Immature: Dark bill and dark cere Dark brown body plumage, including head and tail Variable amounts of white on underwing coverts, belly, and back White head and tail, and dark underwings are gradually acquired in four years.