Wild bald eagle in Alabama???

[alabama]

Last week I was on US 231 at the montgomery county and pike county line when a bald eagle flew over the road. I had no idea that bald eagles ranged this far south.
Is this normal?

[TXTibbs]

You must of been mixing them a little strong.................ease up a bit...next you'll be seeing pink elephants!

haha i dunno I assume they can dip that far south...they are in Texas.

[Jovid]

Saw two here in Oklahoma yesterday.

[alabama]

I sent an e-mail to the Southeastern Raptor Center at Auburn University asking about it and this is what they sent back.

I'm so glad you're enjoying Alabama's eagles. Eagles are not uncommon in the state, and it is normal to see them exactly where you saw them - or just about anywhere else in the state. I live in Wetumpka and often see Bald Eagles in Wetumpka and Montgomery. There are wild eagles nesting on Lakes Jordan and Martin, and also some here in Auburn. There are over 200 nesting pairs in the state -- that means over 400 adult birds that the state Conservation Dept is aware of (plus younger birds!). These birds eat mostly fish - so the many lakes, ponds and rivers in the state means that this is great habitat for them. We work hard to teach people about native raptors and hope that intentional killing is on the decline. In addition, awareness of these birds leads to more sightings!


Eagles are no longer an endangered species...habitat protection and pesticide control are among the things that led to there being healthier fish...which led to higher eagle populations (to put it simply). The birds don't have white head and tail feathers until they're 4 years old or so...which means that the big brown eagles you might see in that same area are also Bald Eagles - just immature (they're full grown at just a few months old - way before they get their white feathers). Keep watching for them...and keep in mind that an area might have "plenty" of Bald Eagles but they're still not as numerous as other species like crows and robins...the eagles need more space per individual/family than lots of other species....and thankfully there are plenty of eagles in Alabama and throughout the USA. Look for that same bird next time you're in that area...he's probably a resident - they're family-minded this time of year.

[kolanuraven]

We've got them here.

They are turning them loose from Yonah Mtn and Currahee Mtn. up here in the hills of GA

So yeah, I wouldn't doubt it.

[Canadian_Cowgirl]

We had Ospreys and Bald Eagles in Florida.

And All kinds of hawks.

[hometowngurl]

Those "brown" eagles are the immature ones and they are called golden eagles. We had a bald and a golden part of the winter this year, altho the bald almost became a hood ornament for a truck. Just had to try for the road-kill on the north side of the hill just north of town, (DUMMY) I used to spot and keep track of some for the refuge south of Valentine. They sure are pretty but huge and awesome to watch when they are go fishin'.




that's the facts, guys.

[per]

When you are fishing and there is a Bald Eagle in sight or nesting on a tree on the shore, try taking a fresh caught fish, blow it full of air (with a dropper) and throw it back in the water. Often the eagle will swoop down to pick it up, as they are scavengers. They will see you coming next time and be happy to let you fish for them. Nothing more spectacular than hearing and watching an eagle dive and pick up a fish 10 feet off your bow.

[Silver]

[hometowngurl]

check the bird book, deary.

[Soapweed]

They are two distinctly different birds.

Golden Eagle


Adult American Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos canadensis
Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Subclass: Neornithes

Infraclass: Neognathae

Superorder: Neoaves

Order: Falconiformes

Family: Accipitridae

Genus: Aquila

Species: A. chrysaetos


Binomial name
Aquila chrysaetos
(Linnaeus, 1758)

******************************
Bald Eagle


Conservation status

Least Concern [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Falconiformes

Family: Accipitridae

Genus: Haliaeetus

Species: H. leucocephalus


Binomial name
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
(Linnaeus, 1766)

[gcreekrch]

You're ALL right. Immature bald eagles don't get a white head until they are 3 or 4 years old.