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First Year Immature Eagle?

13 years ago

Soaring above the Connecticut River yesterday. The plumage looks light enough to be an osprey, but the head and beak look like eagle to me. Any raptor fans think this may be a first year bald eagle?

Not only was he at the end of my 300mm lens range, hence the distortion, and it was high noon, but I successfully messed up and had a slow shutter speed set....all day while shooting. Won't forget that lesson in a hurry.

Thanks for looking,
Jane

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Comments (4)

tmff
13 years ago
This is actually a gull with something in its bill. Can't quite get a read on the species. There are some massive gulls out there (Herring, Great Black-backed). This bird is likely an immature gull as it has dark markings all along the underwings and a dark tail.

Eagles' body, tail, and wings are all shaped differently than a gull's. Notice the slim, pointed wings on this bird. Also, juvenile/immature Bald Eagles are mostly brown. This bird is mostly white with a dark tail. In a raptor (eagle or Osprey), the massive yellow talons would be visible underneath the bird.

If any gull-savvy folks can ID the species, I thank you in advance.

This post was edited by TMFF on Sun, Aug 25, 13 at 19:30
corunum z6 CT
Original Author
13 years ago
Hi, TMFF! Thanks very much. With that thought, I went in and cropped again to see if we could see the beak better. It was the beak that made me question the ID and somewhere I read that some imm. eagles can have a lot of white. If I shot a seagull with chicken fat in its beak and thought it was an eagle, it may be time to return my new glasses. Or pour a glass of something. Thanks.
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corunum z6 CT
Original Author
13 years ago
TMFF - osprey from river yesterday for comparison with top photo. Yup, need to look more closely at Crossley Guide. Thank you, TMFF .
Jane
tmff
13 years ago
Jane,
Gorgeous Osprey! Love those birds!

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