7 replies to this topic

[Parus]

youngsters all look alike to me

[fisherman1313]

Jevenile Bald Eagle.

[BarnSwallow]

Agree. Nice Pic!!

[hawkhenries]

With the amount of white on the tail how old would you all suspect this bird is? 4-7 years avg before white head and tail show in an adult bird right?
I'd guess 3-5 yrs old....

[BarnSwallow]

The white head and tail appear at 5 years old.

[hawkhenries]

The white head and tail appear at 5 years old.

Hmmm~ Now I'm curious. My memory may be failing but old information used to say 4-7 years. Has this recently changed or is it, in my case, OMS??

OMS=Old Man Syndrome

[TheBillyPilgrim]

Hmmm~ Now I'm curious. My memory may be failing but old information used to say 4-7 years. Has this recently changed or is it, in my case, OMS??

OMS=Old Man Syndrome

I think you are both technically right. Generally, Bald Eagles reach adult plumage in their 5th year, but it can occur as early as the 4th year or even as late as the 7th or 8th in unusual cases. This is an interesting article on their plumages, although their sample size is really small: http://elibrary.unm....p0001-p0010.pdf

[psweet]

This looks like a 3rd year bird -- the amount of yellow on the bill pretty much rules out anything younger, and the tail and head pattern aren't right for anything older. They can show this head pattern by their second year, and the tail can show this much white fresh out of the nest.