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Welcome to EaglesExplored.com – your 100% family friendly hub for exploring Bald Eagle images, aging guides, fun facts, and science made-simple. See – Learn – Share. Dive right in!

At EaglesExplored.com, it is our policy to reference peer-reviewed articles and other authoritative sources whenever possible. The following list of references is provided not only to support the accuracy and depth of site content, but also as an open invitation for viewers to explore the subject matter more deeply. We believe that scientific humility and transparency are essential to meaningful outreach. If you identify any discrepancies or areas for improvement in our content, we welcome corrections backed by credible sources, and will revise the site accordingly to reflect the best available knowledge. Please notify us if you find an error or have additional works that should be cited here.

  • 🪶 Plumage & Molt
    • Bortolotti, Gary R. (1984) Criteria for Determining Age and Sex of Nestling Bald Eagles, Journal of Field Ornithology: Vol. 55 : Iss. 4 , Article 6
    • Bortolotti, G. R. (1984). Molt and plumage variation in bald eagles. Journal of Field Ornithology, 55(3), 389–400.
    • Clark, W. S. (2004). Wave molt of the primaries in Accipitrid raptors, and its use in ageing immatures. In R. D. Chancellor & B.-U. Meyburg (Eds.), Raptors Worldwide (pp. 795–804). WWGBP/MME
    • Clark, W. S. (2020). Molt in North American raptors. Birding, 52(6), 42–51.
    • Clark, W. S., & Pyle, P. (2015). A recommendation for standardized age-class plumage terminology for raptors. Journal of Raptor Research, 49(4), 513–517.
    • Clark, W. S., & Wheeler, B. K. (2001). Hawks of North America (2nd ed.). Houghton Mifflin.
    • Cramp, S., & Simmons, K. E. L. (1980). Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa: The birds of the Western Palearctic (Vol. 2). Oxford University Press.
    • Forsman, D. (2016). Flight identification of raptors of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Bloomsbury.
    • Howell, S. N. G. (2010). Molt in North American birds. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
    • McCollough, M. A. (1989). Molting sequence and aging of bald eagles. Wilson Bulletin, 101(1), 1–10
    • Pyle, P. (2005). Remigial molt patterns in North American Falconiformes as related to age, sex, breeding status, and life-history strategies. Condor, 107(4), 823–834.
    • Pyle, P. (2008). Identification guide to North American birds: Part II. Slate Creek Press.
    • Snyder, N. F. R., & Wiley, J. W. (1976). Sexual dimorphism in hawks and owls of North America. Ornithological Monographs, 20, 1–96.
    • Wheeler, B. K. (2003). Raptors of Eastern North America. Princeton University Press.
    • Wheeler, B. K. (2007). Raptors of Western North America. Princeton University Press.
  • 🧭 Classification & Identification
    • Buehler, D. A. (2020). Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), version 2.0. In S. M. Billerman (Ed.), Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
    • Clark, W. S., & Pyle, P. (2015). A recommendation for standardized age-class plumage terminology for raptors. Journal of Raptor Research, 49(4), 513–517.
    • Clark, W. S., & Wheeler, B. K. (2001). Hawks of North America (2nd ed.). Houghton Mifflin.
    • Forsman, D. (2016). Flight identification of raptors of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Bloomsbury.
    • McCollough, M. A. (1989). Molting sequence and aging of bald eagles. Wilson Bulletin, 101(1), 1–10
    • Pyle, P. (2008). Identification guide to North American birds: Part II. Slate Creek Press.
    • Snyder, N. F. R., & Wiley, J. W. (1976). Sexual dimorphism in hawks and owls of North America. Ornithological Monographs, 20, 1–96.
    • Wheeler, B. K. (2003). Raptors of Eastern North America. Princeton University Press.
    • Wheeler, B. K. (2007). Raptors of Western North America. Princeton University Press.
    • Wheeler, B. K. (2018). Birds of prey of the West: Field guide. Princeton University Press.
    • Wheeler, B. K. (2018). Birds of prey of the East: Field guide. Princeton University Press.
  • 🆕 Population Modeling & Conservation Science
    • Millsap, B. A., Zimmerman, G. S., Kendall, W. L., Barnes, J. G., Braham, M. A., Bedrosian, B. E., Bell, D. A., Bloom, P. H., Crandall, R. H., Domenech, R., Driscoll, D., Duerr, A. E., Gerhardt, R., Gibbs, S. E. J., Harmata, A. R., Jacobson, K., Katzner, T. E., Knight, R. N., Lockhart, J. M., … Watson, J. W. (2022). Age-specific survival rates, causes of death, and allowable take of golden eagles in the western United States. Ecological Applications, 32(3), 1–22.
    • Zimmerman, G. S., Millsap, B. A., Abadi, F., Gedir, J. V., Kendall, W. L., & Sauer, J. R. (2022). Estimating allowable take for an increasing bald eagle population in the United States. Journal of Wildlife Management, 86(2).
  • 🌿 Biology & Ecology
    • Buehler, D. A. (2020). Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), version 2.0. In S. M. Billerman (Ed.), Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
    • Bortolotti, Gary R. (1984) Criteria for Determining Age and Sex of Nestling Bald Eagles, Journal of Field Ornithology: Vol. 55 : Iss. 4 , Article 6
    • Buehler, D. A., & Byrd, M. A. (1991). Nesting habitat of the bald eagle in the lower Chesapeake Bay. Journal of Field Ornithology, 62(3), 436–439.
    • Cramp, S., & Simmons, K. E. L. (1980). Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa: The birds of the Western Palearctic (Vol. 2). Oxford University Press.
    • Forsman, D. (2016). Flight identification of raptors of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Bloomsbury.
    • Hunt, W. G., Jackman, R. E., Jenkins, J. M., Thelander, C. G., & Lehman, R. N. (1992). Northward post-fledging migration of California bald eagles. Journal of Raptor Research, 26(1), 19–23.
    • McClelland, B. R., McClelland, R. J., & Yates, M. (1994). Return of a banded bald eagle after 32 years. Journal of Field Ornithology, 65(3), 368–370.
    • Newton, I. (1979). Population ecology of raptors. Buteo Books.
    • Pyle, P. (2005). Remigial molt patterns in North American Falconiformes as related to age, sex, breeding status, and life-history strategies. Condor, 107(4), 823–834.
    • Snyder, N. F. R., & Wiley, J. W. (1976). Sexual dimorphism in hawks and owls of North America. Ornithological Monographs, 20, 1–96.
  • 🕊️ Behavior & Life History
    • Buehler, D. A. (2020). Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), version 2.0. In S. M. Billerman (Ed.), Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
    • Buehler, D. A., & Byrd, M. A. (1991). Nesting habitat of the bald eagle in the lower Chesapeake Bay. Journal of Field Ornithology, 62(3), 436–439.
    • Hunt, W. G., Jackman, R. E., Jenkins, J. M., Thelander, C. G., & Lehman, R. N. (1992). Northward post-fledging migration of California bald eagles. Journal of Raptor Research, 26(1), 19–23.
    • McClelland, B. R., McClelland, R. J., & Yates, M. (1994). Return of a banded bald eagle after 32 years. Journal of Field Ornithology, 65(3), 368–370.
    • Newton, I. (1979). Population ecology of raptors. Buteo Books.
    • Snyder, N. F. R., & Wiley, J. W. (1976). Sexual dimorphism in hawks and owls of North America. Ornithological Monographs, 20, 1–96.
  • 📜 Historical & Foundational Works
    • Bent, A. C. (1937). Life histories of North American birds of prey: Part 1. U.S. Government Printing Office.
    • Bent, A. C. (1938). Life histories of North American birds of prey: Part 2. U.S. Government Printing Office.
    • Cramp, S., & Simmons, K. E. L. (1980). Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa: The birds of the Western Palearctic (Vol. 2). Oxford University Press.
    • Newton, I. (1979). Population ecology of raptors. Buteo Books.
    • Snyder, N. F. R., & Wiley, J. W. (1976). Sexual dimorphism in hawks and owls of North America. Ornithological Monographs, 20, 1–96.