Stages of coloration

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This article first appeared in INHF's Winter 2008 magazine.

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Less than 1 year old, this bald eagle is called a juvenile while it wears its first coat of feathers. Note the dark brown eyes and the beak, which is nearly black. Its wing linings and axillars (the wing-pits) show extensive white.
	Juvenile

This young eagle is in Basic I plumage, which means it is more than a year old, but less than two. It has a white belly with heavy dark mottling, and a broad buff patch on the crown. This bird will now be referred to as an “immature” until it becomes an adult … usually at the age of five.
	Basic 1 plumage

This eagle is an immature bird of 4-5 years of age. Note the beak and eyes are now completely yellow. The spot on this bird’s beak is a piece of the fish he just consumed. Although the tail is now white, there is still a swath of dark color behind the eye. He will become a mature bird next year.
	Immature

Ty Smedes is a freelance writer and photographer from Urbandale.
These photos, along with many others, appeared as part of a photo essay in our
Winter 2008 magazine. For more eagle photos, contact Diane Graves to request
a free copy of our magazine, or visit Ty's website at www.smedesphoto.com.

For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, Director of Communications, or call (515) 288-1846.