The sexes are indistinguishable by their plumage,
or feathers, but females are as much as 25 percent larger than
males. Adults are dark brown with a white head and
tail. The eyes, bill, legs, and feet are yellow.
Juveniles are dark brown overall with white mottling or spots on
the belly, tail, and under the wings. The eyes are dark brown
and the bill is gray to black. The plumage of subadults, or
birds which have not quite reached adult status, is highly
variable, according to age, with a decreasing amount of white on
the body and an increasing amount of white on the head and tail
attained with each successive molt, or shedding of feathers.
The eyes and bill turn yellow during the eagle's fourth year, and
full adult plumage is attained during the bird's fifth or usually
sixth year (Buehler 2000).
Identify the differences
between bald eagles and ospreys (
183KB).
(1)
Taken from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Bald Eagle Management Plan (adopted April 9, 2008). View
the Management Plan.
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