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Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Description:

How often can you get a photo at this split of a second. Camera caught this Bald Eagle relieving its self. Tha Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America, The plumage of an adult Bald Eagle is evenly 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 percent larger than males.[2] The beak, feet and irides 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.[3] The beak is large and hooked, with a yellow cere.

Habitat:

This Bald Eagle was spotted resting in a tree at Roosevelt lake Washington. The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America, The Bald Eagle prefers habitats near seacoasts, rivers, large lakes, oceans, and other large bodies of open water with an abundance of fish. Studies have shown a preference for bodies of water with a circumference greater than 11 km (7 mi), and lakes with an area greater than 10 square kilometers (4 sq mi) are optimal for breeding Bald Eagles.[21] The Bald Eagle requires old-growth and mature stands of coniferous or hardwood trees for perching, roosting, and nesting. Selected trees must have good visibility, an open structure, and proximity to prey, but the height or species of tree is not as important as an abundance of comparatively large trees surrounding the body of water. Forests used for nesting should have a canopy cover of no more than 60 percent, and no less than 20 percent, and be in close proximity to water.

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7 Comments

DanielePralong
DanielePralong 11 years ago

Hi Sharon! Now that you've joined the mission, click on Edit this spotting. The mission in available on a menu on the right hand side. Select it, and then save changes. Also, you need to change the scientific name of this spotting to just Haliaeetus leucocephalus. Thank you!

SharonAzzinnaro
SharonAzzinnaro 11 years ago

I joined the mission Christy, I don't understand how or what to do with the mission and I don't know how to add my spotting to it?

SharonAzzinnaro
SharonAzzinnaro 11 years ago

Thank you Christy, I don't understand how or what to do with the mission???

ChristyHolland
ChristyHolland 11 years ago

Great timing!! Nice spotting!! I'd love you to add this to the mission Raptors of North America: http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/8627...

SharonAzzinnaro
SharonAzzinnaro 11 years ago

Thank you Austin & Aaron, yes perfect timing with the shutter finger!

Austin Jacobs
Austin Jacobs 11 years ago

Sick. Great timing.

Aaron_G
Aaron_G 11 years ago

I saw this as a thumbnail image and thought, "Is that bird doing its business??" Yep, sure was! Incredible timing with your shutter finger. :-)

SharonAzzinnaro
Spotted by
SharonAzzinnaro

Washington, USA

Spotted on Aug 19, 2011
Submitted on Sep 19, 2012

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