Bald Eagle 183 
absent, sometimes the egg is thickly blotched with 
various shades of brown ; in size they average 2°95 x 2°3. 
The Golden Eagle is a very early breeder. Gale states 
that they begin to repair their nests towards the end 
of February, and fresh eggs are found from March 10th 
to April 10th. Dille gives March 1st as an average 
date. Incubation lasts about thirty days, and the male 
takes no part. Even if robbed, no second brood is 
raised. In Gale’s notes there is a curious notice of 
finding two fresh eggs on September 3rd, 1893. If the 
entry is correct, it must have been a quite abnormal 
occurrence. 
Genus HALIZETUS. 
Large birds, wings 22—24, resembling Aguila, but the tarsus only 
feathered about half way down ; a few scutes on the lower half in front, 
and no web between the middle and outer toes. 
About eight species of these Fishing Eagles are known, but there 
is only one species in the United States. 
Bald Eagle. Halicwetus leucocephalus. 
A.O.U. Checklist no 352—Colorado Records—Allen 72, p. 181; 
Drow 85, p. 17; Beckham 85, p. 143; Morrison 89, p. 65; Kellogg 90, 
p. 87; Cooke, 97, pp. 76, 204; Henderson 03, p. 235; 09, p. 229; 
Rockwell 08, p. 162; Warren 09, p. 14. 
Description.—Male—Head and neck all round, tail-coverts and 
tail white; rest of the plumage dark brown of varying intensity ; 
iris, bill and feet yellow. Length 32; wing 22; tail 11-5; culmen 3; 
tarsus 3.4. 
The female is larger—wing 24, tail 12-75. Young birds in the first 
year are nearly uniform, black, but the feathers of the under-parts have 
white bases which often show. In the second year they are brownish, 
and there is a good deal of white both above and below; the tail is 
blackish, blotched with white; iris brown, bill black, feet yellow. 
The pure, white head and tail are only acquired in the third year. 
Distribution.—The whole of North America north of the Mexican 
border including Lower California, the Aleutian and Commander 
Isles and Kamchatka. 
The Bald Eagle is not generally so common in Colorado as the Golden, 
though Sullivan found the former more abundant about Grand Junction 
in the summer (Rockwell). It breeds more commonly in the mountains 
