Golden eagles vs. bald eagles — how to tell the difference
By Gary Bogue
Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 at 7:10 am in Bald Eagles, Golden eagles.
GOLDEN EAGLE NEST
In case you run across a golden eagle or a bald eagle in the wild, here’s what they look like:
GOLDEN EAGLE
These beautiful golden eagles can be seen just about anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area … sometimes even flying low over the middle of town. I know. Amazing. There are golden eagle nests in open space areas just about everywhere. Mount Diablo has a large population of these wonderful raptors. They can be seen in most of the East Bay Regional Parks. The above golden eagle is perched in a tree on Mount Diablo in Contra Costa County. Note the brown body, golden feathers on its head and blue-black beak.
BALD EAGLE
Bald eagles are usually seen flying or perched around one of the many lakes or reservoirs in the area. They are often seen at Lake Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore. There’s a nest there. Also at San Pablo Reservoir and Briones Reservoir. Note the white head, very dark body and large yellow beak which is much bigger than a golden eagle’s beak.
A bald eagle has even been spotted at Lake Herman in Benicia. They are definitely coming back. /Gary
SCREAMING BALD EAGLE
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August 26th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
as juveniles do either of these beauties have a light colored tail?
August 27th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Mike:
Immature bale eagle’s tail feathers look whitish and speckled from below. The immature golden eagle has a white band at the base of its tail feathers. Hope this helps. I suppose the immature bald eagle could fall into the “light colored tail” category. /Gary