Earlier today EagleEye asked a question about the tail pattern on juvenile eagles. The question is a broader matter of identification and the coloration of tail, body and wing feathers to assist in telling one eagle from another. There is a general pattern of black/brown and white feathers that identifies all juvenile eagles. The tail always has a moderately wide dark terminal band with a varying mix of mottled white feathers. Every juvenile eagle will have a different pattern and is one of the identification charteristics to look for to tell which eagle you are seeing. These two photos are of juvenile eagles that fledged this season. The one on the right is from a nest in Chesapeake, VA and the one on the left is HK from the NBG nest. Note the differences in the tail as well as the wing and body feathers. You can review the great photos that the photographers have posted to the two eagle forums and see there is a different pattern on HE, HH and HK with HK having the most white feathers.
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