Hi Jen, i hate to be the bearer of this news but your birds are immature bald eagles.....they are often confused with goldens but a couple of things make then balds: large, protruding bill, speckled light patches on the back, and the fact that goldens are rarely found on this side of the Cascades. Here are two wikis about each one and each notes the easy confusion : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_Eagle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Eagle Also, if in flight, the white on the tail is in different places between each species. Check out your field guide to compare. Great shots, as usual! Just not a rare bird. Laura
Yes, that is what they are immature Bald Eagles, yet how very fortunate you were to be able to get these nice captures and glimpses at our national bird.
Hi Jen,
ReplyDeletei hate to be the bearer of this news but your birds are immature bald eagles.....they are often confused with goldens but a couple of things make then balds: large, protruding bill, speckled light patches on the back, and the fact that goldens are rarely found on this side of the Cascades. Here are two wikis about each one and each notes the easy confusion : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_Eagle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Eagle
Also, if in flight, the white on the tail is in different places between each species. Check out your field guide to compare.
Great shots, as usual! Just not a rare bird.
Laura
Yes, that is what they are immature Bald Eagles, yet how very fortunate you were to be able to get these nice captures and glimpses at our national bird.
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