When film makers are tasked with showing the majesty of the wilderness there is one species that tends to get the limelight, the bald eagle. These fierce raptors are shown perched high above their territories emitting a fierce cry (which is more often than not a redtail hawk on the soundtrack) or soaring through blue skies evoking feelings awe and honour. They are revered in many cultures for their ability to soar closest to the heavens. They are also the only eagle found exclusively in North America.
At four and a half kilograms with a two- meter wingspan, they are impressive predators; the brilliant white heads and tails that they are named for and bright yellow beaks and talons only add to their formidable look. However, these features themselves are a rite of passage as the eagle must be between 5-6 years old before the white head feathers grow in. Given their magnificent plumage, I can only imagine that feathers get a little ruffled when the eagles discover they have been misidentified as bald. The term bald is used to describe the contrasting colours of the white and dark brown, not the lack of feathers.
Young bald eagles are often mistaken for golden eagles because of the mottled brown of the juvenile plumage, including on its head. I don’t know how many times I have been enthusiastically shown a “photo of a bald eagle sitting in the same tree as a golden eagle”, and then had to deliver the news that the person had actually captured a family portrait. If you are trying to determine the difference between the two eagles, the juvenile bald eagles have moulted white on their bellies and wings, the golden eagles have the white on the base of the tail and underside of their wings only. Also, the bald eagles have their yellow ankles showing whereas the golden eagles have feathers down to their feet. Regardless of where the feathers stop, they both remain “talon-ted” birds of prey.
Putting looks aside, bald eagles play an interesting role as top predators. They can eat over 400 species, their keen eyesight (eight times that of a human) means they can spot prey from 3 km up in the air and dive at speeds between 120-160 km/ hour to catch it, faster than most cars on the road. Even the scentless deer fawns hiding in the grass can be included on the menu once “spotted”. Luckily for the fawns, bald eagles prefer fish and are often spotted beside rivers and water bodies looking for a meal. Bald eagles are also excellent scavengers and have been seen sitting on top of very large dead animals like elk to get an easy meal. Their talons and razor-sharp beaks can handle frozen animal carcasses allowing some of the eagles to overwinter here rather than migrating south.
Remember to keep your eyes peeled when around a river for these magnificent birds. The white of the adults certainly make for easy identification but challenge yourself to identify the juveniles as well.
Laura Griffin
