KITES, HAWKS, AND EAGLES: Family Accipitriidae [195] 



dent of eastern Oregon, most abundant in the big sparsely settled counties of Mal- 

 heur, Harney, and Lake, and in northern Morrow County. Only a straggler to 

 western part of State. 



TOWNSEND (1839) first included the Golden Eagle, the most majestic of 

 Oregon's raptorial birds, in a list applicable to the State. Cassin (1856) 

 recorded it, and Bendire took eggs in 1877 and 1878 in Harney Valley. 

 Since that time it has been mentioned by many observers. Woodcock 

 (1901) listed one specimen from Scio and two from Corvallis, Johnson 

 (1880) stated that it occurred at East Portland, Forest Grove, and Salem, 

 and Walker (1914) reported one from near Tillamook on November 2.2., 

 1914. Jewett saw one shot near Tillamook, January 10, 1916, and saw 

 another bird near Gold Hill, May 17, 1916. It is rare now west of the 

 Cascades, however, and to be sure of seeing this regal bird, one must go 

 to the great rim-rock country of eastern Oregon, where it is still a common 

 breeding species and permanent resident. There it builds its nest on the 

 inaccessible cliffs and soars far and wide over the surrounding country 

 in search of food. We have recorded it in our notes from every county 

 in eastern Oregon except Jefferson and Sherman, and for every month. 



The eggs are usually laid in April, and the young birds remain in the 

 nest until well into June. We have seen numerous nests in inaccessible 

 places in many parts of eastern Oregon. One nest visited by the writers 

 near Voltage on June 2.3, 1930, contained a young eagle that took off on 

 unsteady pinions as we scrambled up the rocks below the nest. There 

 are eggs in the United States National Museum taken by Bendire on 

 April 9, 1877, an d April 4, 1878, and there is a set from Harney Valley 

 in the Braly collection taken April 8, 1931. 



The Golden Eagle feeds largely on jack rabbits in Oregon but also 

 takes waterfowl and other birds, all kinds of rodents, and possibly occa- 

 sionally lambs and fawns. 



Northern Bald Eagle: 



Haliaeetus leucocephalus alascanus Townsend 



DESCRIPTION. "Tarsus feathered only half way down, middle and outer toes with- 

 out web; wing pointed, secondaries much shorter than primaries; tail less than two 

 thirds as long as wing, rounded. Adults: Head, neck, tail, and tail coverts snowy 

 white; rest of plumage blackish or dark brownish, feathers edged with brown. 

 Young: first year wholly black except for white bases of feathers showing through; 

 second or third year under parts mixed black and white; head and neck black, rest 

 of upper parts mixed gray, brown, black, and white." (Bailey) Si%e: Length 

 (skins) 34.50-43.0x3, wing zi. 44-2.6. 97, tail n.4z-i4.37, culmen from cere 1.50-1.65. 

 Nest: A huge mass of sticks, lined with various plant materials and placed on high 

 cliffs or in huge trees. Eggs: Usually x, white. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: From northwestern Alaska, northern Mackenzie, and north- 

 ern Quebec south to Oregon and Great Lakes. Winters about in its breeding range. 

 In Oregon: Uncommon resident along larger waterways and about high Cascade lakes. 

 More common along coast. 



