LAND BIRDS. 287 



Michigan beino; all referable to the Bald Eagle, with which the bird is 

 constantly confounded. 



Most people, including many who should be better informed, consider 

 any eagle which lacks the white head and tail a Golden Eagle, whereas 

 the Bald Eagle does not acquire the white head and tail until the third or 

 fourth year at least, yet probably nests when one year old, that is, during 

 the second summer. 



Dr. R. H. Wolcott states that a nest believed to be that of a Golden 

 Eagle was described to him in 1894, on the shore of Lake Huron, 40 miles 

 east of Mackinac. Mr. Ed. Van Winkle of Van's Harbor, Delta county, 

 Mich., was positive that the Golden Eagle nested in Delta county some ten 

 or twelve years ago, but he was doubtless mistaken. Of course it is not 

 impossible that the bird does sometimes nest among the cliffs along the 

 south shore of Lake Superior, but we have absolutely no proof that such 

 is the case. This is decidedly a mountain eagle and its nests are usually 

 placed in almost inaccessible places on cliffs. It is known, however, to 

 nest in trees occasionally, and in some regions (California and Oregon) 

 most of the nests are so placed. 



Usually but two eggs are laid, though there are records of three. They 

 are deposited very early in the season, in January or February in Arizona, 

 from the 10th to the 20th of March in southern California, and from April 

 1st to April 10th in southern Oregon. We have no records of nests from 

 the vicinity of IMichigan. The eggs are sometimes plain white, but 

 oftener thickly spotted or blotched with brown or gray, various shades 

 of brown predominating. They average 2.93 by 2.34 inches. 



The Golden Eagle sometimes attacks larger animals than hares and 

 rabbits, and occasionally, on some of the western sheep ranches, it is quite 

 destructive to young lambs. Probably also once in a while it attacks 

 young fawns of the common deer, but the instances are rare. 



Major Bendire says of its note " The usual call-note is a shrill ' kee-kee-kee ' 

 uttered in a high tone. It is often heard in the early spring before nidifica- 

 tion commences. Another note not so frequently used — one of alarm — 

 is 'kiah-kiah,' repeated a number of times." 



The Golden Eagle rears but one brood in a season, and the period of 

 incubation is approximately four weeks. 



TECHXKAL DESCRIPTIOX. 



Atlult : (leneral color rich dark brown, lighter on tibiic anti tarsi, tlie feathers of tlie 

 occiput and hind neck with separate, lanceolate tips (like the hackles of a rooster) which 

 are yellower or more golden brown, whence the name of the eagle; tail white basally, 

 only the terminal half or less clear black, sometimes with a lighter tip; cere and feet greenish 

 yellow; bill dark horn color; iris brown. 



Immature: Similar to adult, but darker, especially above, the hackles less golden, 

 and the tail white only at the very base, or with several imperfect grayish bars on its 

 basal half. 



Male: Length '.iO to 35 inches; wing 23 to 24.70; tail 14 to L'). Female: Length 

 35 to 40 inches; wing 25 to 27; tail 15 to 16; extent of spread wings 7 to 7\ feet. 



144. Bald Eagle. Haliaeetus leucocephalus leucocephalus (Linn.). (352) 



Synonyms: White-hea<led llagle. American l^agle. Black Ivigle, Cray Eagle. \\'ash- 

 ington Eagle. — Falco leucocepiialus, Linn., 17G(i, (imel., Lath.. Wils. — Atjuila leucocepliala, 

 Briss., Vieill., Swains.— Haliaetus leucoce[)halus of authors generally. 



Only two species of eagle occur in Michigan; the Golden Eagle has 

 just Ijcen described, the Bald Eagle when adult has a pure white head and 



