Juvenile Bald Eagle

A juvenile bald eagle stretches its wings after being perched for some time in a tree. I noticed this large bird while walking along a stream bank in north Idaho.

comments (6)

travismorhardt

Lion

Some links that may help:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_birds_of_Idaho
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/wildlife/nongame/leafletBirdsPrey.pdf
http://www.hancockwildlife.org/forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=132018 Posted 10 years ago, modified 10 years ago
1. WildFlower
  
  Lion
  
  I find raptors hard to identify. Some of them look similar and they vary too. Looking at the pattern on the chest, I would bet on Buteo swainsoni, but I am not sure about the rest of it.
  http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Buteo+swainsoni Posted 10 years ago
2. 1. travismorhardt
    
    Lion
    
    Thanks for your input, WildlFlower! I looked into B. swainsoni also, but I just don't think it fits. After looking closely at the underside of the tail feathers (seen in the other photo below) and the gray wing feathers, I am convinced it is an immature bald eagle. Posted 10 years ago

travismorhardt

Lion

Another view...

Posted 10 years ago, modified 10 years ago

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Wow, you got really close here! Don't have the knowledge to identify it, but hopefully others chip in. If not, a "likely match" is ok. Posted 10 years ago
1. travismorhardt
  
  Lion
  
  I was walking along a creek bottom when I noticed it watching me from the tree across the stream. I walked a little closer and sat down on rocky island. It really didn't care at all that I was there. I even got to see it stretch its wings, seen in both photos, which was physical behavior I hadn't witnessed so close. A truly magnificent bird. It was huge! Posted 10 years ago

The Bald eagle

The bald eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known subspecies and forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle, which occupies the same niche as the bald eagle in the Palearctic. Its range includes most of Canada and Alaska, all of the contiguous United States, and northern Mexico.

Info 124 5

Similar species: Diurnal Birds Of Prey

Species identified by travismorhardt