LAND BIRDS. 289 
It is a well known fact that in most birds of prey the female exceeds the 
male in size, and this is true of both species of eagle. It is not so generally 
known, however, that the young Bald Eagle, during the first year after 
leaving the nest, is larger than either of its parents, the expanse of wing 
being often a foot greater. It is also noticeably different in color, and these 
large, immature birds were originally described by Audubon as the “ Bird 
of Washington,” and even at present we sometimes hear allusions to the 
“Washington Eagle” as if it were a distinct species. 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Tarsus bare for an inch or more above base of toes; five outer primaries deeply notched 
(emarginate) on inner webs. 
Adult: Entire head, neck, upper tail-coverts and tail pure white, in strong contrast 
with the rest of the plumage which is mainly dark brown, many of the body feathers with 
paler margins, and the wing feathers nearly black. Bill, cere and feet bright yellow; 
iris pale yellow to yellowish white. 
Immature, first year (Black Eagle): Plumage mainly black; no white on head, and at 
most only small freckles of white on the inner webs of tail feathers, but all the body feathers 
snowy white below the surface; bill black; feet yellow; iris brown. 
Immature, second and third year (Gray Eagle); Head and neck mainly black, the 
“hackles” of hind neck tipped with brown or gray; tail black, the inner webs of most 
of the feathers more or less sprinkled or mottled with whitish; body feathers above and 
below mixed brown, black and gray, or even streaked and margined with pure white. 
Bill dark horn color; iris brown; cere and feet yellow. 
Male: Length 30 to 35 inches; wing 20 to 26; tail 11 to 15.25. Female; Length 
34 to 43 inches; wing 23.50 to 28; tail 12.50 to 16; spread of wings 6} to 7} feet. 
Family 38. FALCONIDA. The Falcons. 
145. Duck Hawk. Falco peregrinus anatum (Bonap.). (356a) 
Synonyms: Peregrine Falcon, American Peregrine, Great-footed Hawk.—Falco 
anatum, Bonap., 1838.—Falco peregrinus, Ord, 1808.—Falco communis var., Lath.— 
Falco communis var. anatum, B. B. & R., 1875. 
This is a large falcon characterized by the notched and toothed bill, 
and the single emarginate outer primary; only to be confounded with the 
Gyrfaleon (Appendix). 
Distribution.—North America at large, and south to Chili. Breeds 
locally throughout most of its United States range. 
This beautiful falcon is nowhere common; although a few individuals 
are seen each season in favorable localities it probably would be impossible 
for any collector to procure one on an order at any particular time. It 
is most often seen during the large flights of water fowl in spring and fall, 
when it seems to accompany these birds in their migratory movements, 
feeding upon them whenever so inclined. Specimens are found here and 
there in the public and private collections of the state, but in most cases 
without definite data as to time and place of collection. Among the more 
recent records are a female shot March 25, 1904, on the outskirts of Detroit, 
and a male taken October 6. 1904, on the Detroit River near Pt. Mouille 
(Swales, Wilson Bull. 53, 1905, p. 108) ; an immature bird taken by N. A. 
Wood at the Charity Islands, ca ee 20, 1910, and a 
imen at the same place October 3. 
pe darn ea appearance and habe it is practically identical with the 
Peregrine of the Old World, which was considered the prince of falcons, 
37 
