A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
These two immature Bald Eagles were perched together at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in southwest Washington State, where Bald Eagles are common during winter and early spring.
Spotted on Apr 7, 2012
Submitted on Apr 9, 2012
8 Comments
They're definitely Balds!!! How could anyone say differently? Beautiful birds Dan and Lin...great shots! ;-)
I give in! I give in!! I had a brief blond moment!! Give me a break...please!! ;-)
The first picture definitely makes him/her look like a Golden, but It definitely looks like a bald to me!
Arrrgggh...Liam, I just found a pic of a 1st-year Bald that looks very much like this one...they must get splotchier as they grow up, right?? I think you might be correct!
;-)
Dan and Lin, do you have any more photos? You mention multiple eagles, but have just the one pic...I know sometimes my photos don't all download in one try...I am still thinking it's a Golden, Liam...you are superb in IDing birds, and have named many of mine, but my instinct says Golden. Are you looking perhaps on a phone? The lighting made me think Bald at first also. I changed my mind when I blew up the photo. (Sigh)...I rarely argue!! ;-)
Definitely a Bald Eagle. The beak is too large for Golden, which have Golden napes in all plumages.
Nice
Wonderful picture! I am pretty sure it's a Golden Eagle - the plumage is pretty evenly brown, and a Bald's juvenile plumage is usually pretty splotchy brown and white feathers. Also, the beak is more delicate than the bulky, fish-eating Bald. He/she looks so regal!