ACCIPITRES — FALCONID^E — HALI^ETOi. 
5 
GENUS HALIAETOS. Savigny. 
Ridge of the beak convex and compressed : lower mandible with the tip obliquely truncate. 
Nostrils oblong, oblique. Upper half of the tarsus with short close-set feathers, with 
transverse scutellae in front below. Cere slightly hispid. Outer toe capable of changing 
its direction. Tail rounded. Claws curved with a deep internal groove. 
THE BROWN OR BALD EAGLE. 
Haliaetos leucocephalus. 
PLATE I. FIG. 1 (Female). 
(STATE COLLECTION. Male & Female). 
Falco leucocephalus . Wils. Orn. Vol. 4, p. 89, pi. 36 (adult male). 
Sea Eagle. Id. lb. Vol. 7, pi. 55, fig. 2 (youDg). 
F. leucocephalus. Nutt. Man. Vol. 1, p. 72 (male). 
Aquila (Haliaetos) id. Rich. & Sw. F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 15. Bonap. Comp, and Geographical List, p. 3. 
White-headed or Bald Eagle. Aud. B. of A. 8vo. Vol. 1, p. 80, pi. 14 (male). 
Bald Eagle, H. leucocephalus. Giraud, Birds of Long Island, p. 9. 
Characteristics. Brown. Head and tail (of males) white. Tail reaching beyond the 
wings. Bill, feet and irides pale yellow. Female : Beak bluish black. 
Tail with a few light spots on the upper surface. Young, irregularly 
varied with dark and pale brown. Length 3 feet. 
Description. Bill curved regularly from the cere to the tip : an obtuse and scarcely pro¬ 
minent lobe on the cutting margin of the upper mandible ; and beyond this, the bill suddenly 
curves downward. Primaries acute ; the fourth longest. Tail rounded. Claw of the hind 
toe largest. 
Color. Adult male : Head and upper part of the neck, the tail and its coverts, white ; 
remaining parts of the body chocolate-brown. Bill and tarsus yellow ; cere light blue. 
Female : Chin and upper part of the breast white ; a small portion of the upper part of the 
tail powdered with white. Young: Dull brown varied with white. Tail brownish black, 
mottled with white. 
Length, 36’0-40"0. Extent of wings, 84'0. Weight, 8-12 lbs. 
This noble bird is found in every part of the United States, feeding upon fish, wild fowl 
and small quadrupeds. Along the coast it is frequently seen pursuing the Fish Hawk, and, 
compelling him to drop his prey, seizes it before it touches the water. It builds its nest in 
trees, and lays two or three dull white unspotted eggs. Although birds of prey are seldom 
gregarious, yet I have known them to appear in flocks of 15-20 on the marshes near the 
seacoast on Long island, after a violent northeast storm. The inhabitants, on such occasions, 
