Bald Eagles And Golden Eagles

Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles

Eagle is the common name for a number of diurnal birds of prey, some of which are the largest members of
their family which also includes kites, hawks, buzzards, and certain vultures. The name eagle is somewhat
loosely applied, as several of the groups are not particularly closely related to one another, and some birds
called hawks are larger than some called eagles. The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus Leucocephalus) and the
Golden Eagle (Aquila Chrysaetos) are two eagles that have several of the same characteristics and have
several different ones as well.

The Bald Eagle is the only eagle species living strictly in North America, and has a presence in every state
in the US except Hawaii. Young (immature) Bald Eagles are light gray when hatched, and turn dark brown
before leaving the nest at about 12 weeks of age. During their third and fourth years, Bald Eagles have a
mottled brown and white color under their wings and on their head, tail and breast. The distinctive white
head and tail feathers do not appear until they are 4 to 5 years old. Bald Eagles range from about 29-42
inches long, and can weigh between 7-16 pounds, and have a wingspan of 6 to 8 feet. This makes them one
of the largest birds in North America. Bald Eagles residing in the northern US are larger than those that
reside in the south. They have a life span of up to 30-40 years in the wild and longer in captivity. Bald
Eagles are monogamous and remain faithful to their ma...

Bald Eagles And Golden Eagles

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