Immature Bald?

[Steve Robinson]

Hey Eric, Jaime, et al, is this an immature bald eagle? I spotted it perched on a telephone pole near home this afternoon. I was able to get 4 shots off before it took off and one in flight. The AF went berzerk afterwards hunting back and forth and wouldn't lock. Pentax K20D + Sigma 100-300 f/4, 300mm, 1/2000 @ f/5.6, ISO 800, 100% crop. C&C always welcome.

 

[Eric Diller]

Nice captures!

I personally don't think its a Juvi Bald Eagle. Almost looks like a Juvi Red Tailed Hawk but I am far from an expert! I see a lot of Bald Eagles here and it doesn't look quite big enough to be one.


I am sure Don or Asher can help out........

 

[Steve Robinson]

Thanks for the info Eric. I'll try and do some more research. My bird spotting skills have a long way to go yet.

I googled and found this image of an immature baldie.

And this is an image of a red tailed hawk.

 

[Jaime Johnson]

Agreed - not an eagle!

I have a pretty neat chart (jpg) that shows the imature balds and the ages of each phase. If you send me an email, I'll pass it on to you. ( jaimej26@linctel.net )

I see tons of bald eagles and tons of goldens - until I really started watching, I had a hard time telling the difference. Now it is pretty easy - Goldens have a golden toupe (kinda a Donald Trump look) and they also have plumage clear down to their toes - Balds have more of their feet exposed.

 

[Steve Robinson]

I've done some more research and now I think it may be a Cooper's Hawk.

 

[Jaime Johnson]

Nice capture!

 

[Steve Robinson]

Thanks Jaime. A birder on another forum ID'd it as a dark-plumaged Juvenile Red-tail Hawk. What do I know?

 

[Sean DeMerchant]

Hey Eric, Jaime, et al, is this an immature bald eagle? I spotted it perched on a telephone pole near home this afternoon. I was able to get 4 shots off before it took off and one in flight. The AF went berzerk afterwards hunting back and forth and wouldn't lock. Pentax K20D + Sigma 100-300 f/4, 300mm, 1/2000 @ f/5.6, ISO 800, 100% crop. C&C always welcome.

I have only run into one immature bald eagle of coloring close to this and it was a beautiful but scary bird over waist high (~1m high). This one on the wire looks too small as at "six weeks, the eaglets are very nearly as large as their parents." ( http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/eagle/eagle4.html )

a thought,

Sean

 

[Steve Robinson]

Sean, you are correct. A birder on another forum ID'd it as a juvenile dark plumaged red-tailed hawk.