Bald Eagle (American Eagle)

The Bald Eagle is a magnificent bird of prey and the national emblem of the United States. Adults are instantly recognizable with their dark brown bodies, brilliant white heads and tails, and bright yellow beaks and feet. Juveniles are mottled brown and white, taking up to five years to attain adult plumage. They are powerful flyers with a massive wingspan reaching up to 7 feet.

Rich dark brown to chocolate-brown coloration throughout the vane, with a robust, off-white to yellowish-cream central rachis. The coloration is typical of a juvenile or sub-adult Bald Eagle before it develops its iconic white head and tail plumage.

Strongly pennaceous with tightly interlocked barbs and well-developed barbicels providing high structural integrity for flight. No afterfeather (aftershaft) is present, which is typical for raptor flight feathers. The barbs are mostly intact with slight fraying near the base.

Stiff, durable, and smooth with a matte finish. Designed to withstand strong aerodynamic forces during flight and soaring.

Large size, robust cream-colored rachis contrasting sharply with uniform dark brown pennaceous barbs, and a broad, rounded secondary flight feather profile.

Found near large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply and old-growth trees for nesting, including lakes, reservoirs, rivers, coastal estuaries, and marine shores.

Confined to North America, ranging from Alaska and Canada down through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico. Most populations are year-round residents or partial migrants depending on winter ice conditions.

Apex avian predator at the top of the aquatic food web, primarily feeding on fish, waterfowl, and carrion. Serves as an important ecological indicator of wetland and aquatic ecosystem health.

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), whose flight feathers often feature more pronounced barring or pale bases, and large Buteo hawks, which are significantly smaller in scale.

Bald Eagles build the largest tree nests recorded for any bird species, sometimes weighing over two tons and used for decades. Their eyesight is roughly four to five times sharper than human vision.

Good condition. The rachis is strong and unbroken, with minor wear and slight fraying visible at the basal margin of the vane. Overall color remains rich without severe sun bleaching.