302 



HAWKS, EAGLES, AND KITES 



1905. CAMERON, E. S., Auk, XXII, 158-167; XXV, 251-268 (biog.). 

 1909. MACPHERSON, H. B., 8vo, 1-45; plls. 1-32 (Witherby, London). 



351. Haliseetus albicilla (Linn.). GRAY SEA EAGLE. Ads. Tail 

 white, rest of plumage varying from grayish brown to fuscous. Im. "With 

 plumage largely light cinnamon-brown or isabella-color. d" L., 31'00-34'00; 

 W., 23'00-26 : 00; T., H'50-12'00" (Ridgw.). 



Range. N. part of E. Hemisphere, breeding from Scotland, n. Europe, 

 and n. Asia to Spitzbergen and Nova Zembla; in migration s. to Japan, China, 

 n. India, s. Europe, and n. Africa; resident in Iceland and Greenland; re- 

 corded also from Cumberland Sd. ; casual on the Aleutian Islands. 



Nest, on cliffs or in trees. Eggs, 2-3, dull white, "occasionally with small, 

 faint spots of light brown" (Davie), 3'00 x 2*35. Date, Crimea, S. Russia, 

 Apl. 12. (Thayer Coll.) 



This species breeds in southern Greenland. 



352. Haliaeetus leucocephalus leucocephalus (Linn.). BALD 

 EAGLE. Ads. Head, neck, and tail white, rest of the plumage fuscous; bill 

 yellow; tarsus not fully feathered. Im. Fuscous, more or less varied with 

 white; tail fuscous, more or less mottled with white, particularly on the 

 inner vanes of the feathers; bill black. <? L., 32*85; Ex., 84'10; W., 22'00; 



T., 11-90; B., 2-48. 9 L., 35'50; Ex., 

 89'00; W., 24-00; T., 12'25; Weight, 

 12 Ibs. 



Remarks. At any age the Bald Eagle 

 may be distinguished from the Golden 

 Eagle by its partly feathered tarsi. 



Range. U. S. to s. L. Calif, and n. 

 Mex., breeding in suitable locations 

 throughout its range; rare and local in 

 Calif, and in the arid interior. 



Washington, not common P. R. 

 Ossining, common P. R. Cambridge, of 

 irregular occurrence at all seasons. N. 

 Ohio, tolerably common P. R. SE. Minn., 

 P. R., becoming rare. 



Nest, generally in tall trees, sometimes 

 on cliffs. Eggs, 2-3, dull white, 2'85 x 

 2-20. Date, Brevard Co., Fla., Nov. 25; 

 Tampa, Fla., Dec. 3; coast S. C., Nov. 27, 

 large embryos; Lancaster Co., Pa., Feb. 

 11; Stone Is., Maine, Apl. 21. 



Bald Eagles are seldom found far 

 from the water. Here they may be 

 seen soaring overhead, winging their 

 way to and from their feeding-ground, 

 or occupying some favorite perch, gen- 

 erally in an exposed position. They subsist principally upon fish. As 

 a last resort they sometimes capture these themselves, but dead fish 

 cast up on the shore are eagerly taken, and their habit of robbing 

 the Fish Hawk of his well-earned booty is too well known to be com- 

 mented upon. In some localities, particularly in the South during the 

 winter, they live largely upon waterfowl which they capture themselves. 

 The voice of the Bald Eagle has a weird, human quality. Dr. 

 Fisher says: "At a distance the note of the Bald Eagle is not alto- 



FIG. 90. Foot of Bald Eagle. 



