Eagles & Vultures

Question 1

What are the THREE species of eagles found in North America?

Answer 1

1. Bald Eagle
2. Golden Eagle
3. Osprey

These three raptors are not very closely related but they do share similar shape characteristics.

Question 2

What are the FIVE SHAPE characteristics of the eagle subgroup?

Answer 2

1. Very large birds
2. Very large wings built for soaring
3. Moderately long tails
4. Prominent “fingers”
5. More prominent heads in flight silhouettes

On the lattermost point: the head can be clearly seen in silhouette when an eagle is flying, as opposed to vultures, whose heads appear small, not only because they’re unfeathered but also because they are typically nestled into their bodies when flying.

Question 3

What is the biggest eagle ID challenge in North America?

Answer 3

Distinguishing young Bald Eagles apart from Golden Eagles.

Photos by © Brian Avent (left) and Kent Miller (right)

Juveniles of both species are large birds with all-brown bodies and variable white patches. (You’ll discover how to tell them apart throughout the rest of this deck!)

Question 4

What bird is this?

© Terrance Carr

Answer 4

Bald Eagle

Adult

Bald Eagles are one of North America’s most iconic birds. Adults have a clean white head and tail with dark brown, whole-body plumage, rendering them unmistakable when perched or during flight. Their bills are particularly large and completely yellow, as are their legs and feet.

Question 5

What bird is this?

© Brian Avent

Answer 5

Bald Eagle

Juvenile

Without the pristine white head and tail, young Bald Eagles can be tricky to identify. Their overall size and huge bills immediately tell them apart from any of the Buteo species.

Their dark brown body plumage is often spattered and messy with smudgy white patches, which can separate them from the more uniformly brown Golden Eagle.

Question 6

Where would you expect to find Bald Eagles during the breeding season (spring-summer)?

Answer 6

In forested areas near large bodies of water. Look for their enormous nests constructed of sticks.

Bald Eagles spend much of winter in coastal areas near large rivers and unfrozen lakes.

In summer, they build huge messy nests from sticks, which they often return to year after year. Bald Eagles are also known to steal nests (and food) from Ospreys!

Question 7

What does the diet of Bald Eagles consist primarily of?

Answer 7

Fish, which they dive for and catch with their feet.

Photo by Andy Morffew

They are also opportunistic feeders and will eat smaller birds, mammals, carrion, or even steal fish from other raptors like Ospreys.

Question 8

How long does it take Bald Eagles to mature into their full adult plumage?

Answer 8

Five years

Until then, Bald Eagles are mostly dark brown with variable white patches that tend to be concentrated in (but are not limited to) the wing linings.

Question 9

What bird is this?

Photo by Imran Shah

Answer 9

Golden Eagle

Golden Eagles have rich brown plumage all over with slightly lighter flight feathers that contrast with their darker wing linings. They get their name from the lighter brown feathers on their head and back, which glimmer like gold in the sunlight.

These are huge birds so size alone won’t help you distinguish them from young Bald Eagles. Their plumage is a more uniform, rich brown in color. They also lack the all-yellow bill and eye of the Bald Eagle.

Question 10

What is the preferred habitat of the Golden Eagle?

Answer 10

Open country

Think: prairies, tundra, barren areas, and coniferous forests, especially in hilly or mountainous country.

Golden Eagles are found around the world, in a variety of habitats. But in North America they are primarily birds of the open country.

Question 11

Where are you likely to find Golden Eagles nesting?

Answer 11

In trees or on cliff ledges

Question 12

How do Golden Eagles typically hunt their prey?

Answer 12

They spot prey from great heights—usually while soaring—and then swoop down to pounce.

They’re also known to fly close to the ground, using hilly terrain and small rises to conceal themselves, before ambushing prey.

Golden Eagles typically hunt rabbit-sized prey but will take anything up to the size of a small deer! They also opportunistically feed on carrion.

Question 13

What bird is this?

© Pat Smart

Answer 13

Osprey

Ospreys are large birds but they are smaller than both Bald and Golden Eagles. They have long wings, which they hold bent slightly backwards, giving them the characteristic silhouette you can see in this photograph.

Ospreys are also quite vocal, whistling and chirping as they approach their nests (like many raptors). Study the deck on “Call ID” to learn how to identify Osprey and other vocal raptors from sound alone!

Question 14

True or false?

The Osprey has a range restricted to North America.

Answer 14

False.

Found on all continents, except Antarctica, the Osprey is actually one of the most widespread birds in the world!

Question 15

What is the preferred habitat of Ospreys?

Answer 15

Near large bodies of (preferably shallow) water, like lakes, rivers, lagoons, and coastal waters.

You can find Osprey in an odd mix of habitats—from Boreal forests to deserts—but only as long as there is a source of fish nearby.

Question 16

What is the main diet of an Osprey?

Answer 16

Osprey are fish-eating specialists with over 95% of their diet consisting of freshly-caught fish.

Photo by Bengt Nyman

Ospreys have even developed adaptations to support this lifestyle, with the pads of their feet covered in tiny barbs that help them grasp onto slippery fish.

Look out for hovering foraging behaviour! They often do this before diving to catch a fish.

Question 17

What bird is this?

Photo by Juan lacruz

Answer 17

Golden Eagle

Golden Eagles have smaller heads and a more prominent secondary bulge in the wing than Bald Eagles, whose wings are long, flat, and straight: almost shaped like a door! Golden Eagles also hold their wing tips in a slight dihedral shape. Not as much as a Turkey Vulture but definitely more than a Bald Eagle.

Also note the dark eye and bill, and the lighter brown (“golden”) head and wing feathers from whence these birds get their name.

Question 18

What bird is this?

Photo by Hagen von Eitzen

Answer 18

Osprey

Ospreys are strikingly contrasted in flight with gleaming white wing linings and bellies, and dark tails and carpal marks. The flight feathers are dark at the tips and then become lighter. Most noticable, especially at closer range, is the Osprey’s dark mask and white head.

Question 19

What bird is this?

Photo from Wikipedia Commons

Answer 19

Golden Eagle

The rich brown plumage, lighter “golden” feathers of the neck and upper wing coverts, and the dark eye and bill tip give this massive raptor’s ID away as a Golden Eagle.

Question 20

What bird is this?

Photo by Judy Gallagher

Answer 20

Bald Eagle

Juvenile

This all-brown raptor could easily be confused with a Golden Eagle. Juvenile Bald Eagles—individuals less than one year old—tend to look quite scruffy, dirty even, with their dark brown and patchy white plumage. This aesthetic tells them apart from Golden Eagles, which are a more uniform brown.

Even though juvenile Golden Eagles also have white patches, these tend to be concentrated at the base of the tail and in the flight feathers of the wing, and not the wing lining, as is the case with Bald Eagles.

Question 21

What birds are these?

© Terrance Carr

Answer 21

Osprey

Ospreys are completely dark (brown) on top and white underneath with a prominent eye mask and white head. Sexes are alike, although females are larger and tend to have darker spotting on their chests.

Juveniles closely resemble adults with the exception of silvery “scalloping” or scaling on the dark feathers of their back and wings.

Question 22

What bird is this?

Photo by Kent Miller

Answer 22

Golden Eagle

Juvenile

It takes Golden Eagles five years to reach full, adult plumage. Until then, they can exhibit pronounced white patches at the base of the tail and in the flight feathers of the wing, not the wing linings (usually). These patches are variable but are quite visible.

Question 23

What are FOUR clues to look for when trying to tell a young Golden Eagle apart from a young Bald Eagle?

Answer 23

1. More prominent secondary bulge in wing.
2. Light brown (golden) feathers on the head and on the back of the wings.
3. Slightly dihedral wing tips in flight.
4. Juveniles: white patches neatly concentrated in the primary flight feathers and at the base of the tail

The white on young Bald Eagles is a lot messier and more variable, and typically shows up in the wing linings, which is the inverse of the Golden Eagle.

Question 24

What are the THREE species of vultures found in North America?

Answer 24

1. Black Vulture
2. Turkey Vulture
3. California Condor

Question 25

What are the **FIVE SHAPE characteristics** of the vulture subgroup?

Answer 25

1. **Large birds** 2. **Very broad, very long wings** built for soaring 3. **Mostly shortish tails** 4. **Prominent primary feathers** that extend like "fingers" out from the wings 5. A **head that appears small** in flight due to lack of feathers

Question 26

What bird is this?

Answer 26

Turkey Vulture | Adult ## Footnote Turkey Vultures are large birds: almost as large as eagles. Because their heads are unfeathered and often held tucked between their shoulders, they look somewhat headless in flight. This alone can help you discern them from other large, soaring raptors. Another stand-out feature is their **pink, not black head** and **lighter flight feathers** that extend from the primaries all the way down the wing to the body. In good light conditions, they appear a *silvery white* against the dark wing linings. In poor lighting, however, they can appear black.

Question 27

What bird is this? ## Footnote Photo by [Gregory "Slobirdr" Smith](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Juvenile_Turkey_Vulture_(Cathartes_aura)_-_Flickr_-_Gregory_%22Slobirdr%22_Smith.jpg)

Answer 27

Turkey Vulture | Juvenile ## Footnote Young Turkey Vultures can sometimes be confused with Black Vultures because their heads are dark, not pink. However, they still have the pale flight feathers and distinctive dihedral, wobbly flight style, which will provide you with ample clues to work off of. This emphasizes the importance of looking for other clues to corroborate every ID!

Question 28

What bird is this?

Answer 28

Turkey Vulture | Adult ## Footnote This bird is clearly a vulture and its **pink head** and silvery flight feathers, which extend **completely down the wing**, distinguish it from a Black Vulture. Another tell-tale characteristic of Turkey Vultures is the way they hold their wings during flight: in a **classic dihedral or V-shape**, as you can see in this picture. They also soar for long periods of time, without flapping, and have a noticable teeter-tottering flight, almost like they're balancing on a tight rope. Because Turkey Vultures often soar pretty high up, learning to recognize their **flight style and silhouette** are important for successful ID.

Question 29

What bird is this? ## Footnote Photo by [Amestone1](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coragyps_atratus_Mexico.jpg)

Answer 29

Black Vulture | Adult ## Footnote Both Black and Turkey Vultures often perch with their wings spread, especially in the sunshine. They do this to **regulate their body temperature** but also possibly to **control ectoparasites** that thrive in their feathers.

Question 30

What birds are these? ## Footnote Photo by [Gary Leavens](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coragyps_atratus_(Black_Vulture)_15.jpg)

Answer 30

Black Vultures ## Footnote Even when soaring up high, the **silvery white patches** on the primary flight feathers are visible against the all-black body of the Black Vulture. The fact that there are **several of them** in this picture is also a valuable clue, since vultures are sociable birds, unlike most other raptors.

Question 31

What bird is this? ## Footnote Photo by [lwolfartist](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Black_vulture_blandair_4.11.20_DSC_0734.jpg)

Answer 31

Black Vulture | Adult ## Footnote Note the broad wings, tiny unfeathered head, short tail, and **black plumage** with the exception of **two white patches** that are concentrated in the primary flight feathers. These white patches on an otherwise all-black body is unique to Black Vultures and can help distinguish them from other soaring raptors, even when they're at great heights. Also note that this vulture is mid-flap. Black Vultures **flap their wings far more often** (and more rapidly) than Turkey Vultures.

Question 32

What birds are these? ## Footnote Photo by [Jefferson Barracks](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Black_vulture_with_turkey_vulture_-_50726963283.jpg)

Answer 32

Black Vulture (left) & Turkey Vulture (right) ## Footnote Look closely at the vulture's head on the right: it shows up pink around the eye and nose. This is likely a young vulture whose pink coloring is still developing. What is definitely visible, however, is the **ivory-colored bill**, which is distinct from the black bill (and all-black head) of the Black Vulture on the left. Remember, if the head is pink, it's *always* a Turkey Vulture. But if the head is black, it could be a young Turkey Vulture or a Black Vulture.

Question 33

What bird is this? ## Footnote Photo by [Don Graham](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:California-condor-gymnogyps-californianus-078_(21196759264).jpg)

Answer 33

California Condor ## Footnote Meet North America's **largest bird**! With a wingspan of up to 3 m (almost 10 ft), these birds are powerful fliers built for soaring for hours at a time. They display a distinctive patterning of **white wing linings and black flight feathers**, which is the opposite of the Turkey Vulture and substantially different from the Black Vulture.

Question 34

What birds are these? ## Footnote Photo by [Bob Wick](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:California_Condor_(29963861340).jpg)

Answer 34

Californian Condor ## Footnote Note the large orange-pink heads and fluffy black "feather boas". California Condors are *huge birds* that are substantially larger than North America's other two vulture species; larger even than Golden and Bald Eagles.

Question 35

What bird is this? ## Footnote Photo by [Becky Matsubara](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:California_Condor_(26582457846).jpg)

Answer 35

California Condor ## Footnote Note the enormous wings, extremely long "fingers" (emarginated primaries), and white wing linings. If you look closely, you'll also notice the **numbered tags** on both the wings. Because of their critically endangered status, most California Condors have been tagged so that they can be monitored.

Question 36

What is a Turkey Vulture's **preferred habitat**?

Answer 36

**Open country** and areas of **mixed forests and farmlands** ## Footnote Turkey Vultures can also be found in deserts.

Question 37

What **THREE traits** relating to a Turkey Vulture's **flight style** can help you deduce its ID?

Answer 37

1. They hold their wings at an angle to their bodies (creating a **dihedral or V-shape**). 2. They soar for long periods of time, **rarely flapping** their wings. 3. They have an unsteady, **teeter-tottering flight**, like they're walking on a tight rope. ## Footnote These traits can help distinguish Turkey Vultures from similar-looking raptors like Black Vultures, which (1) hold their wings in line with their body, (2) flap more often during flight, and (3) fly in a steadier fashion.

Question 38

How do vultures **forage for food**?

Answer 38

All three species of American vultures soar at height, often covering great distances. When they **detect carrion** (by sight or smell) or **spot a congregation** of other vultures, they'll drop out of the sky to eat. ## Footnote Vultures are carrion-eaters and do not hunt live prey. In this way, they help to keep ecosystems clean of rotting carcasses, which can prevent diseases from spreading.

Question 39

What is **unique about the sociability** of vultures?

Answer 39

Vultures are **gregarious birds** that typically *feed and roost in flocks*. ## Footnote These flocks can also be mixed! Turkey and Black Vultures will often roost together in trees or on tall buildings.

Question 40

How does a Black Vulture's **flight style differ** from a Turkey Vulture?

Answer 40

They hold their wings at the same angle as their bodies, casting a **flat profile** (not a dihedral). Also, they tend to **flap more often** and are **studier in flight** than Turkey Vultures.

Question 41

Which is the most **severely endangered** and range-restricted of North America's largest raptors?

Answer 41

California Condor ## Footnote Photo by [Chuck Szmurlo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:California-Condor3-Szmurlo_edit.jpg) In the 1980's, California Condors were **extinct in the wild** with only 22 birds remaining in captivity. Through breeding and reintroduction programs, we have managed to reinstate a small population of 369 (in 2024) of them in California, the Grand Canyon, and Baha California.

Question 42

Where do California Condors typically **nest**?

Answer 42

On cliffs ## Footnote They will occasionally also nest in the cavities of huge trees.

Question 43

**How long** does it take California Condors to reach **full maturity**?

Answer 43

6 to 8 years ## Footnote Until then, they look pretty much like adults with the exception of showing *grey* wing linings, not white, and a darkish head.

Question 44

Where are you **most likely to find** California Condors?

Answer 44

They are extremely range-restricted to **California**, the **Grand Canyon area**, and **Baha California**. ## Footnote Image source: [Wikipedia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gymnogyps_californianus_ranges.png) The range map above shows the historical and current ranges of the California Condor. The white shaded area marks the range in the early 19th century. The black shaded area marks the range as it was around 1950. The orange shaded area marks the range as it was in 2012 after almost 20 years of ongoing re-introduction of the species into the wilderness.