Image by EaglesExplored.com (Third Year Eagle Image by Robin Gwen Agarwal CC BY NC 2.0)

5 ½ Years – Definitive Plumage gallery

Not Just Images – Insight

the bald eagle Plumage and aging gUIDE

1/2 YEAR juvenal PLUMAGE

1-1/2 YEARS BASIC I PLUMAGE

2-1/2 YEARS BASIC II pLUMAGE

3-1/2 YEARS bASIC III PLUMAGE

4-1/2 YEARS BASIC IV PLUMAGE

5-1/2 YEARS DEFINITIVE PLUMAGE

Welcome! See – Learn – Share. Our galleries document the variation of bald eagle plumage across the pre-definitive molt sequence (age), individuals, regions and seasons. In most cases, these variables aren’t known, so plumage and age classifications are approximate, based on plumage presentation and coloring of the beak, cere and iris. Sorting of the images is also approximate based upon Mark A. McCollough’s seminal 1989 paper, “Molting Sequence and Aging of Bald Eagles” which includes his descriptions and iconic sketches of known-age individuals. The variation in plumage tells a story of molt sequence over time. This page is dedicated to the “Definitive” plumage class which, according McCollough (1989), can occur as early as 4½ years of age in the Basic IV plumage class, or at 5½ years of age (less commonly referred to as Basic V plumage). Please refer to the table and sketch below the gallery for key classification tips. A full plumage description is available in McCollough’s cited paper. Some individuals shown in this gallery may exhibit active molt. They are placed in the gallery that best matches their overall presentation based on McCollough’s 1989 plumage descriptions. Viewer input is welcome.

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Eagles Explored Bald Eagle head diagram

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Eagles Explored Bald Eagle head diagram — This anatomical diagram of the Bald Eagle’s head highlights key feather regions and structural features referenced in McCollough’s 1989 plumage study. While McCollough sometimes used accessible terms like “cheek,” “forehead,” and “eye stripe” to describe variation across plumage stages, this illustration offers a more detailed map of the underlying anatomy—including the auriculars, malars, crown, and throat. By visualizing these regions, viewers can better understand how flecking, shading, and molt-phase traits appear in different plumage classes. The diagram serves as both a reference and an invitation: to look closer, ask questions, and engage with the archive as a living resource. ***(Illustration Credit: EaglesExplored.com CC-BY-NC 2.0)***

🦅 Definitive Plumage Identification Summary (5½ year) per Mark A. McCollough (1989). The following descriptions are based on McCollough’s observations of 135 Bald Eagles of known age. The observations were made in Maine and the Canadian Maritime Provinces. Plumage variation from these descriptions is possible, and rather likely based on factors such as season, region, molt status, diet, and more. This is a tool for approximation, not for confirmation. Some birds are undoubtedly in molt phase. An attempt has been made to place them in the gallery of the closest plumage classification. Please see note below gallery.
Note: Per McCollough (1989), Basic V eagles display definitive plumage, yet some individuals retain faint gray flecking around the eyes and occasional dark mottling in the tail. These traits may persist into older age despite otherwise definitive feathering.

Feature	Definitive Description	Variation in Older Birds
Crown	White; faint gray flecking around eyes in most individuals	One eagle (7½–8½ yrs) had extensive gray flecking on forehead and around eyes
Nape	Not explicitly described; inferred to be white, consistent with definitive head	No variation noted
Auriculars	White; no distinct eye stripe	One older eagle retained extensive gray flecking through auriculars
Chin/Throat	Not directly described; likely pure white	No variation noted
Belly	Dark brown with scalloped buffy feather margins	No variation noted
Tail	White rectrices with occasional flecks of black or brown; pure white in most older adults, though rare individuals may retain subtle mottling.	White rectrices with occasional flecks of black or brown; pure white in most older adults, though rare individuals may retain subtle mottling.
Beak	Yellow; two birds had slight brown mottling at base or along crest	No variation noted
Cere	Yellow; generally uniform, though two birds had slight brown mottling at top	No variation noted
Iris	Pale yellow	No variation noted

Plumage Classification Notes: Bald Eagle images in this archive have been sorted according to plumage stages described by McCollough (1989). With over 300 images and countless individual variations, some classifications may be imperfect or open to interpretation, especially in cases of transitional molt or atypical feathering. Molt-phase birds are placed in galleries that best reflect their overall appearance, though some may straddle two plumage stages both before and after the molt. This project is a work in progress, and constructive input is always welcome. If you believe an image might better reflect a different plumage stage—or if you notice traits that suggest molt phase rather than a clean classification, then please let us know. We’ll do our best to annotate transitional birds in their captions and move them to better-fitting galleries when appropriate. To share your thoughts, just refer to the image ID (e.g., EaglesExplored_00017) and reach out through the contact link. Your insights help us refine the archive and deepen the conversation.