LAND BIRDS. 287 
Michigan being 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 Michigan. 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. 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Adult: General color rich dark brown, lighter on tibiw and tarsi, the feathers of the 
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 30 to 35 inches; wing 23 to 24.70; tail 14 to 15. 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. Halizetus leucocephalus leucocephalus (Linn.). (352) 
s s: White-headed Eagle, American Eagle, Black Eagle, Gray Eagle, Wash- 
siptn Hagle-—Faleo leucocephalus, Linn., 1766, Gmel., Lath., Wils.—Aquila leucocephala, 
Briss., Vieill., Swains.—Haliaétus leucocephalus of authors generally. 
Only two species of eagle occur in Michigan; the Golden Eagle has 
just been described, the Bald Eagle when adult has a pure white head and 
