ID this eagle.

[JaniceL]

I puzzled over the identification of this eagle, and leaned towards an immature bald eagle. It seemed to make sense since there are already nesting bald eagles there and have been there for at least a couple years that I know of.

This one seems pretty obvious because of the emerging bald head.

Immature Bald Eagle by Janice L, on Flickr

But there were other questionable ones. These had me puzzled, up to six birds fighting over a tasty morsel.

Turf War, Rival Juveniles fight over food. by Janice L, on Flickr

Here is one of the underside.

ID this eagle. by Janice L, on Flickr

And looking at this site for reference photos, I am thinking that what I was seeing at the Refuge were several Baldys

What do you think? It's a tough call.

Note: edited to add the site that I referred to previously but did not insert.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bald_Eagle/id

 

[BobH]

Here's a really nice and useful spotting guide:

http://www.hancockwildlife.org/forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=132018

Based on the mottled feathers, which I see in the guide above, and also noted in the field while shooting Bald Eagles, I'm going to guess it's a Juvenile Baldy. But that is a guess....

 

[Bill Anderson]

They all look to be juvenile bald eagles. It is quite rare to see golden eagles west of the Cascades, although there is currently one in the Snoqualmie Valley north of Seattle.

This year we have at least one juvie bald eagle in Edmonds. Hopefully I can get some decent photos of it when (if?) it stops raining.

 

[JaniceL]

Hopefully I can get some decent photos of it when (if?) it stops raining.

Good luck with that

 

[JaniceL]

Thanks I'm pretty convinced it is a young baldy.

 

[arlinescott]

Yellow beak is a Baldy, yellow and black or grey are Goldens. I checked with a former Park Ranger that I know in Yellowstone and he confirmed the ID. He said it is getting more common to see Goldens on this side of the Cascades during migration now since they seem to be following other flocks of their prey further. They do tend to stay more on the dry side of the state because they prefer the open prairie for hunting but several have been spotted this year and last on the wet coast.

Your shot of the one with the most feathers could be either but the ones with the black are definitely Goldens.

 

[BobH]

Yellow beak is a Baldy, yellow and black or grey are Goldens.

That is true in mature birds. Not sure if it applies to juvies.

 

[arlinescott]

Here is a photo from your guide Bob showing white on the chest and wings of a young eaglet. This is a tough one and unfortunately, they probably won't be here long enough to know for sure.

 

[arlinescott]

And, this is a photo of a young Baldy with a black beak and the darker eyes of a Golden. Really not making this any easier.

 

[BobH]

And, this is a photo of a young Baldy with a black beak and the darker eyes of a Golden. Really not making this any easier.

Here's a positive ID on your birds. It's an.... EAGLE!

Pretty sure it's a Baldy, black beaks on the juveniles are common from what I recall, need to check my photos tonight to verify.

 

[arlinescott]

Here's a positive ID on your birds. It's an.... EAGLE!

Pretty sure it's a Baldy, black beaks on the juveniles are common from what I recall, need to check my photos tonight to verify.

YEP, darn toot'n' they are definitely EAGLES!

 

[JaniceL]

View attachment 9361

Interesting perspective on this photo.

 

[JaniceL]

Here's a positive ID on your birds. It's an.... EAGLE!

Now I know why you're in charge

 

[BobH]

OK, I've checked my photos and found quite a few with black beaks, and several where the beaks are partially black and partially yellow. The white feathers on the chest are also common and seem to be the best distinguishing make I can find. The yellow beak works too, but only if it's yellow. A yellow beak tells you for certain it's a Baldie, but a black beak can mean a Golden Eagle of any age, or a juvenile Bald Eagle.

According to the online references, those white chest feathers are found only on immature bald eagles. So that seems to be a good spotting feature, and one that can easily be seen even when they're perched.

 

[BobH]

Here's an immature bald eagle who's beak is in the process of turning yellow. He also appears to be getting his black feathers in.

As you can see, the black beak only indicates it's not a mature bald eagle, but then again, they are rather easy to spot without resorting to beak color!

 

[arlinescott]

Interesting perspective on this photo.

Yep, it was actually an article on the eaglets committing "frattercide" for complete dominance in the "pecking order". Kind of gross but the way things go. I was trying to figure out what the fuzzy banded things were.

 

[JaniceL]

Yep, it was actually an article on the eaglets committing "frattercide" for complete dominance in the "pecking order". Kind of gross but the way things go. I was trying to figure out what the fuzzy banded things were.

Sibling rivalry to the extreme.

 

[arlinescott]

In some cases, is it wrong to wonder why they can do it and I can't?

 

[JaniceL]

In some cases, is it wrong to wonder why they can do it and I can't?

I shall remain silent. LOL.