Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Greek for sea eagle with a white head, is our nation’s symbol. Probably because of their increased sightings, I regularly get a few questions or eagle reports. Two of those questions are regarding an eagle’s size as it grows, and why don’t all have white heads and tails.

Regarding size, it may surprise you that when an eaglet leaves the nest (early June usually) that it is almost the same size as its adult parents. Altricial birds, like robins, blackbirds, cardinals, or eagles remain in the nest until gaining the ability to fly and reaching adult size. I think what may confuse a few people is that they compare the way mammals grow and mature to birds’ maturation.

A white-tailed deer fawn is born weighing about 4 to 8 pounds. By its first autumn, that 5 or 6-month-old may weigh 50 to 60 pounds. If it avoids cars, predators, terrible winter conditions or hunters, it may attain a weight of about 160 pounds (mature male.) A black bear’s growth parallels the deer as well. As it ages it increases in size. Of course, the same growth pattern generally holds true in humans.

When an eagle leaves the nest, it is already about 95% of its adult weight. Its wingspan is almost identical to that of an adult. But there are differences. Particularly the plumage. The bald eagle’s majestic and distinctive white head, white tail, and contrasting dark brown body does not occur until the eagle reaches age 5.

That is also the age at which they can first breed. This delay in maturity means that they must survive those years until they can be part of the growth of the eagle population. We, fortunately, have placed a great emphasis on their protection and their appreciation.

I would like to help you identify a juvenile bald eagle and maybe even help you know its age. First thing to note is that an eagle with its massive wings and wingspan can be identified from a hawk or vulture from quite a distance. A very large bird, it flaps its wings rather slowly. While soaring, the eagles wings are held in a flat posture, not in the slight V as a turkey vulture. The eagle is not bothered by a gusty wind and keeps rather steady in the air. Vultures, with weaker breast muscles, rock side to side in even a slight breeze.

Finally, a vulture’s posture in flight appears to have almost no head. It lacks feathers making the head look much smaller. Black vultures don’t soar in a dihedral but have shorter wings, flap quickly, and their tail seems to be “too small.”

The other bird possibly confused with a bald eagle is the golden eagle. First, few are ever seen in the Times News area. (They do migrate along the Blue Mountain in early November.) They look similar to a juvenile bald eagle but their head appears much smaller.

The juvenile leaving the nest is basically dark brown but in flight will show quite a bit of white feathers underneath its wings. A 2-year-old begins losing most of those white feathers. The 3-year- old will show traces of white feathers in its head, but not the tail. By age 4, the tail and head get more white but still flecks of white feathers are seen underneath the wings. At maturity, the head and tail are bright white contrasting with the dark brown body. I hope this helps a bit.

Test Your Outdoor Knowledge: Blooming along mostly secondary roads very shortly are dandelion looking flowers called: A. mustard; B. coltsfoot; C. dames rockets; D. orchids.

Last Week’s Trivia Answer: It takes a pileated woodpecker about 2 weeks to finish its nesting cavity.

Email Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com