Young American Bald Eagle

by Carla Parris

Title

Young American Bald Eagle

Artist

Carla Parris

Medium

Photograph - Digital Photograph

Description

This young American Bald Eagle is getting ready to fledge, which young eaglets typically do between 10 and 14 weeks of age.

As this image reflects, this eaglet is nearing the weight of an adult, which is typical for fledging birds.

It will take this youngster around five years to acquire his full adult plumage and coloring.
Newly hatched eagles are dark, fuzzy-headed birds. During their first year, their heads and bellies are dark brown, but as they near time to fledge, their wing pits and underwing coverts become white, as can be seen in this photo.

At this age, an eaglet’s eyes are still dark, but his feet are a dull yellow, and soon his beak will begin to show hints of yellow. Eventually, he will acquire the distinctive white head of adults, with its bright yellow hooked beak.

Fledging eaglets engage in a practice called branching, where they jump up and down on the nest or a branch, flapping and exercising their wings. Their first flight is often a glide downward to a lower branch.

This soon-to-be fledgling bald eagle was photographed March 28, 2018 at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in northwest Florida.

Uploaded

March 28th, 2018

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