130 



Distinctions. Though very similar in juvenile plumage to the Golden Eagle, the 

 unfeathered yellow legs will always identify it. 



Field Marks. The Eagle outline and great size are quite characteristic when one is 

 familiar with them. The great hooked bill, the culmen of which projects in a straight line 

 with the crown and fills the whole of the forehead are plainly visible and quite recogniz- 

 able. The white of the head and tail are unmistakable recognition marks for the adult 

 and on account of the large scale of the details the juvenile can be told from the Golden 

 with greater ease than would naturally be expected. The golden tawny of the upperneck 

 of the Golden which is often quite conspicuous is absent on the Bald. The somewhat 

 whitish or mottled tail of the Golden shows from below a dark terminal tip, from 2 to 4 

 inches deep depending on age, in perceptible contrast with the base; whereas the tail of the 

 juvenile Bald is all dirty white with little or no distinct terminal band but presenting an 

 aspect of even mottling at all stages. Any Eagle observed in eastern Canada should be 

 tentatively identified as of this species unless there are definite and positive reasons for 

 declaring it Golden Eagle. 



Distribution. Over the whole of the United States and Canada except the extreme 

 Arctic coasts. 



SUBSPECIES. The Bald Eagle is divided into two subspecies, only one of which, 

 the Northern Bald Eagle H. I. alascanus, is known to occur in Canada. The typical 

 race is of more southern distribution. 



Though the Golden Eagle is typically an inhabitant of the mountains 

 and highlands, the Bald Eagle is a bird of the waterside and is seldom 

 found far from that element. Though once a typical species of the eastern 

 landscape it is yearly growing rarer, until now in most localities the sight of 

 one is an event of some importance. The Bald Eagle is a nearly harmless 

 species. The damage it does is very small and as a characteristic wild 

 feature of our lake landscape this picturesque bird should be preserved. 



Economic Status. Of 15 stomachs examined, 1 contained game; 

 5, mammals; 9, fish; and 2, carrion. In examining these data it is observ- 

 able that the 6 stomachs containing mammals and game are winter speci- 

 mens and, except one, were taken at a distance from water. Had the 

 natural breeding and summer grounds of the Bald Eagle been the source 

 of the specimens here studied, the mammals and game would probably 

 have been replaced by fish, for this forms the great bulk of its food. The 

 food is taken in various ways. The bird dives for fish in true Osprey 

 manner when necessary, but it usually picks them up dead from the shore 

 or, where Ospreys are common, takes the fish from them by force. To do 

 this it pursues and badgers the successful fisher until it drops the prize, 

 which by a lightning-like swoop is caught in the air and carried away in 

 triumph. The Bald Eagle is, as a rule, hardly energetic enough to capture 

 the quicker birds, but wounded or hurt Ducks or game are eagerly picked 

 up from the marshes. When opportunity offers the Bald Eagle eats offal 

 without compunction. 



It will be seen that Bald Eagles in reasonable numbers cannot be any 

 great menace to mankind. Poultry is rarely touched. The fish they take 

 is only a bagatelle, being mostly waste or surplus from a great abundance. 

 Their scavenging is actively beneficial and in the east at least they 

 should be encouraged rather than repressed. 



FAMILY FALCONIDjE. FALCONS AND CARACABAS. 



The family Falconidce consists of two subfamilies, the True Falcons 

 Falconince and the Caracaras Polyborinae. The latter subfamily is of 

 southern distribution and only one Caracara has been taken in Canada. 



