Bald Eagle

Description:

The plumage of an adult bald eagle is evenly dark brown with a white head and tail. The tail is moderately long and slightly wedge-shaped. Males and females are identical in plumage coloration, but sexual dimorphism is evident in the species, in that females are 25% larger than males. The beak, feet and irises are bright yellow. The legs are feather-free, and the toes are short and powerful with large talons. The highly developed talon of the hind toe is used to pierce the vital areas of prey while it is held immobile by the front toes. The beak is large and hooked, with a yellow cere. This spotting included the adult bird and a nearby nest.

Habitat:

This is one of the breeding pair of eagles that were nesting in a large pine tree adjacent to a large beaver pond at the Silver Bluff Audubon Center near Jackson (Aiken County), SC.

Notes:

This is the southern subspecies, which breeds in South Carolina. The bald eagle has sometimes been considered the largest true raptor (accipitrid) in North America.