A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Large dark-bodied raptor with white head and tail, yellow bill and talons as adults. Young birds are dark-bodied as well, but have irregular spoltches of lighter feathers randomly across body and wings. Young bald eagles are often mistaken for golden eagles.
Bald eagles are generally found hunting and nesting near bodies of water where they find fish to eat. They will hunt small mammals, such as rabbits, in upland areas. They will also feed on carrion when it is available. Younger eagles, being poorer fliers may seek out carcasses more than adults.
Bald eagles often concentrate below dams in the upper Midwest where water remains open throughout the winter and fish are accessible. Bald eagles are the national bird of the United States.
I was using a long telephoto, but on this day the birds were flying low over the river in front of me as they snatched dead gizzard shad off the shoreline. These birds were spending the winter in a popular city park and were very habituated to human activity so they pretty much ignored me as I sat quietly just a few yards away.
Spotted on Apr 23, 2010
Submitted on Apr 23, 2010
