Blondes have more fun. :) Leucistic Bald Eagle, Klamath Falls area.

[JaniceL]

Found these on a road trip to the Wildlife Refuges of the Klamath Basin.

This is a busy year for Bald Eagles in the Klamath Basin. I've been asked not to share the exact location, however the word is out. We drove around a few area roads to find this pair and just one other car who we also saw scoping out the area.

Leucistic Bald Eagles by Janice L, on Flickr

It wasn't long before people were flocking to the site. First the one car, then more and then a bus load. It wasn't long before a very startle farmer wondered what was going on since he never sees anybody there. It happened amazingly fast. Like scavengers at a kill. LOL. I guess the one car was a scout.

Early Birders by Janice L, on Flickr

More birders by Janice L, on Flickr

Soon the farmer was coming out asking what was going on.

 

[JaniceL]

We went back just after sunrise the next day for a private audience with "Blondie" while she soaked up the warm rays that were melting the frost that touched the fields, fences and equipment.

Leucistic Bald Eagle by Janice L, on Flickr

 

[Bill Anderson]

Great shots of a rare bird.

 

[JaniceL]

Thank you, Bill.

The mild winter has left a large population of Prairie Dogs. There was a village in one of the neighboring fields which attracted many Bald Eagles. It was an all you can eat buffet.

Prairie Dog by Janice L, on Flickr

 

[psyft59]

We went back just after sunrise the next day for a private audience with "Blondie" while she soaked up the warm rays that were melting the frost that touched the fields, fences and equipment.

Leucistic Bald Eagle by Janice L, on Flickr

Beautiful photo. However, if this is an adult bird and is in fact the mate of the darker one it was with yesterday, that would make this bird a male not female. Female adult raptors are larger than the males by about 1/3 and can weigh 10-15 lbs more. Stunning creature...but then they all are.

 

[RickyRed2057]

Wow, I did not know that there are blonde morphs. Thank You for sharing. R.J

 

[Bill Anderson]

The eagle is leucistic.

Leucism & albinism

Leucism dunnock_by_john_harding_0.jpg Leucistic Dunnock In leucistic birds, affected plumage lacks melanin pigment due to the cells responsible for melanin production being absent. This results in a white feathers, unless the normal plumage colour also comprises carotenoids (e.g. yellows)...

www.bto.org

Many people mistake a leucistic bird for an albino one. From the article:
Albinos have pink eyes while the iris pigmentation of leucistic birds remains dark.

I photographed a leucistic crow on Edmonds several years ago. One or two leucistic bald eagles have been reported up north in Skagit County for the past few years.

 

[Tom Z]

We had a leucistic Grackel a couple of weeks ago. Haven’t seen it again. Pictures through the living room window.