Bald Eagle vs Golden Eagle - Raptor Identification

[@anitam2439]

Loving these educational bird ID videos... very helpful!

[@LycoBirds]

Thanks Anita!

[@robertsanders2992]

Nicely done! Here in FL folks are frequently misidentifying young balds as golden. Goldens are extremely rare in FL. Also: here's a fine point. Juvy flight feathers are longer & pointed. It takes 2 years to completely molt those feathers. Replacements are shorter & blunt giving the wings of birds in their 2nd year a sawtooth appearance. This is clealy visible in one of your photos. Again, very well done. Peace.

[@LycoBirds]

Good tip!

[@beastshawnee]

I have been seeing an albino bald eagle in Missouri-when I first spotted it it was pale with a fully white head but the second time I spotted it I got a better look and it appeared caramel bodied with a white head. I thought maybe age made it darker (?) but maybe it was just the lighting outside. IDK since it surely was a mature adult if the head was white...but maybe the head was already fully white as an albino (?) Who knows. Anyway it was just days after someone had posted a pic of one online -so glad because it helped me ID it-I might have doubted what I was seeing lol!

[@maryannlevan2163]

These are fantastic! Very well made, clearly explained, nicely illustrated.

[@LycoBirds]

Thanks!

[@thebradleysoncatbirdhill6849]

These are extremely well done! We would consider ourselves intermediate birders, and do spend quite a bit of time birding in Southeastern Pennsylvania, northern Delaware, and northern Maryland. We look forward to seeing all in the series!

[@LycoBirds]

Thank you!

[@bryansawyer8435]

Thank you for this...Now I know that I just saw an immature Bald Eagle in Avoca, Michigan 🙂

[@no_b_roll]

Super helpful video. It is very well made, too: concise, specific, and clear. Well done!

[@biggeneral1628]

These are great videos, keep it up!

[@jinnyjohnson3988]

Love, love these videos

[@user-on1pu7id7e]

Thank you this helps alot

[@larryseckman8367]

Very useful info

[@penboyasgod6103]

I love seeing Bald Eagles --- especially when they have both white head and tail, but I think the Golden Eagle is more beautiful and stately.

[@LycoBirds]

Both are good looking birds for sure!

[@mikelemeryfilms]

Great video, will use this next time people question my golden eagle videos! Very well done.

[@amicableenmity9820]

I *may* have seen a golden eagle in Milwaukee recently. I notice they somewhat look like a vulture in profile but definitely flap more. I'm very familiar with vultures and it certainty wasn't one. I thought maybe immature bald eagle but it wasn't clicking with me.

[@swayback7375]

I saw an eagle! Saw it twice this week… much to my surprise it might actually be a golden based on the V shape on the wings while soaring. Sadly the sun has made it look like it’s all black

[@imbruh3781]

I just saw a bald eagle today. A turkey vulture was just gliding and beside I thought they were starling. But when I looked closely. I saw a white head. flat wings. And big head. And an m shape. But all black

[@ScottH22175]

You can tell a Turkey Vulture a mile away from their constant " tipping " in flight. I guess to catch any helpful air currents.

[@LycoBirds]

Good "tip"!

[@bother2adapt]

Thank you.

[@toddsutton5672]

problem with this is its only if they are over head. im in so mn and saw a young golden it had the white wing patches as shown here that was a few weeks ago. i came upon some road kill with 4 eagles, there 2 adult balds and a mottled young one they were waiting there turn. there was a mostly dark bird that i could not tell if it was a young bald or a golden. will the adults let a young one feed while they wait?

[@imbruh3781]

In thorold

[@imbruh3781]

Well uhhhh it made an m shape as it was gliding but it was all black. I tried looking closely and a white head appeared. But its whole body was all black because of the sun

[@imbruh3781]

But it's head was black no white on wingpits but big head. The sun was just blocking

[@timapiepgrass8702]

Most of these tips were for soaring birds, anyone have tips for perched birds? I'm a new birder. Thanks!

[@tonysokaleoralvsky2640]

Great video

[@heidiholtz4382]

Bald eagles sloppy opportunists. Goldens are sleek always impressive

[@jaknap1]

Neither eagle is actually BALD or GOLDEN but stupid people had to name them that way.