What is the Difference Between Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle are both large birds of prey, but they have several differences that can be used to distinguish between them:
- Plumage: Adult Bald Eagles have a distinctive white head and tail, while Golden Eagles have a brown head and tail. Immature Bald Eagles have a mottled appearance, while young Golden Eagles have solid white patches on their wings and tail.
- Beak and Legs: Bald Eagles have a large yellow beak and yellow feet without feathers, while Golden Eagles have a slightly smaller black beak and are feathered all the way down their legs to the tops of their feet.
- Wing Structure: Golden Eagles typically have an obvious constriction point where the wings attach to the body, while this is less noticeable or not visible in Bald Eagles. Bald Eagles also have broader wings than Golden Eagles, whose wings appear to taper more.
- Flight Pattern: In flight, Golden Eagles have smaller heads and seemingly longer tails than Bald Eagles. They also soar with wings slightly raised, whereas Bald Eagles fly on straight wings.
- Habitat and Location: Golden Eagles are more common in the Rockies, Western Prairies, and Arctic and Subarctic Canada, while Bald Eagles are more widespread in North America.
Despite these differences, it can still be challenging to identify immature birds, as they have similar coloration and patterns.
Comparative Table: Bald Eagle vs Golden Eagle
Here is a table comparing the differences between Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles:
| Feature | Bald Eagle | Golden Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Aquila chrysaetos |
| Appearance | White head and tail, dark brown body | Brown head and tail, dark brown body |
| Wings | Larger, slightly curved shape | Broad, rectangular shape |
| Flight Speed | Up to 100 miles per hour in level flight | Up to 200 miles per hour |
| Legs | Feathers stop a few inches from tops | Feathers reach all the way down to tops of feet |
| Beak | Large, yellow | Slightly smaller, black |
| Taxonomy | Haliaeetus “Sea eagles”, more closely related to kites | Aquila, more closely related to hawks called Buteos |
| Habitat | Areas with lots of trees, wetlands | Open plains, mountains, deserts, forests, and areas with cliffs |
| Range | North America, locations with trees and water | North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of North Africa |
Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles are both large birds of prey with dark brown bodies, but they have distinct differences in appearance, habitat, and taxonomy. Bald Eagles have a white head and tail, while Golden Eagles have a brown head and tail. Bald Eagles have larger, slightly curved wings, which allow them to maneuver more easily in the air, while Golden Eagles have broad, rectangular wings that are ideal for soaring and gliding. Golden Eagles also have feathers that reach all the way down to the tops of their feet, while Bald Eagles have feathers that stop a few inches from the tops of their feet.
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