Bald Eagle

This is a primary flight feather from a sub-adult Bald Eagle. Unlike the solid brown of adults, immature eagles show varying amounts of white mottling. The eagle itself is a massive raptor with a wingspan of 6-7.5 feet, known for its iconic white head and tail in maturity, though juveniles are mostly brown.

Uniformly dark chocolate brown to blackish-brown with a distinct, large white patch at the base of the inner vane (characteristic of immature birds); the rachis transition from white at the calamus to dark brown.

Densely interlocked pennaceous barbs providing a rigid, wind-resistant surface for flight; hooklets are strong and functional.

Stiff and relatively smooth; the surface has a slight waxy gloss for water resistance and durability against high-speed wind during flight.

Large size, extreme stiffness, dark brown vane coloration, and the diagnostic white patch at the base of the inner webbing typical of a second or third-year bird.

Coastal areas, large lakes, and rivers with abundant fish populations and large trees for nesting and roosting.

Most of North America, from Alaska and Canada down through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico.

Apex predator and scavenger; controls fish and waterfowl populations and cleans up carrion, acting as a key indicator of environmental health.

Golden Eagle (feathers lack this specific white basal mottling on inner primaries), Turkey Vulture (feathers are lighter/greyer on the underside and much thinner).

Bald Eagles build the largest nests of any North American bird, some weighing over a ton. They are not actually 'bald'; the name comes from an old English word 'balde' meaning white.

Fair to Good; the vane shows significant wear and separation (rifling) along the trailing edge, likely due to natural molt and weather exposure.