Overwintering Golden Eagles
Written by Carter Dorscht, Executive Director
Yesterday, Trent Massey and I were out for a drive searching for whatever interesting wildlife we could find. Right when it just started getting light out, a Barred Owl flew across Highway 17 right in front of us, but for the next few hours, we didn’t see a whole lot that was noteworthy. As we were working our way back home, a beautiful immature Golden Eagle flew over the road ahead of us just west of Desbarats. I managed to snap only a couple of photos out the window before it was out of sight to the north.
Golden Eagle
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This is now the third Golden Eagle that has been observed this month in Central Algoma. Trent and Tony Ward each had separate birds on the same day a few weeks ago.
Golden Eagle - Photo by Trent Massey
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Golden Eagle - Photo by Tony Ward
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This isn’t the first winter there have been overwintering Golden Eagles in the Central Algoma region either. I’ve seen a few of them within the last few winters. Is this a new trend of them starting to overwinter further north than they used to, or are there just more of us documenting these birds nowadays? I’m not exactly sure, but hopefully we’ll always have the habitat here that this endangered species requires to hunt and survive the winter.
Distinguishing between these two raptors is a common challenge and immature Bald Eagles are frequently confused with Golden Eagles due to their shared massive size and lack of a white head. It is also a common misconception that Golden Eagles are noticeably larger in size. Around here, it is important to remember that Bald Eagles are still far more abundant, so if you see a large dark bird in a field, the odds heavily favour a young Bald Eagle.
To tell them apart visually, look for the messy white mottling scattered across the Bald Eagle’s underwings and belly, whereas a young Golden Eagle’s white is restricted to clean, distinct patches at the wrist and the base of the tail. Even when found away from water, which happens often in winter as Bald Eagles range inland to scavenge, their silhouettes are another clue to look at. The Bald Eagle soars with wings held flat as a plank, while the Golden Eagle carries its wings in a slight, uplifted V shape. I always say that if you think you saw a Golden Eagle, it was most likely an immature Bald Eagle.
Golden Eagle (top) and Bald Eagle (bottom)
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If you’re hoping to spot a Golden Eagle, migration season remains your best opportunity. They typically pass through from late March into April on their northward journey, returning south between late October and early December. During these windows, they are observed almost exclusively in flight over land. Because they avoid crossing large bodies of water, they tend to funnel through the narrowest land corridors available.
The Central Algoma Land Trust depends on the generous support of our local community to carry out our work. Please consider making a donation to help advance conservation efforts across the Central Algoma region. Your contribution will help protect the natural spaces and wildlife that make this area so special.
