How to Identify Eagle in Wyoming

Adult Bald Eagles are unmistakable: a white head and neck with a dark brown body and wings. The contrast is visible at great distance. Golden Eagles are entirely dark brown to blackish-brown with a golden or rusty wash on the nape, lacking any white. Immature Bald Eagles are all brown and often confused with Golden Eagles, so look for white patches under the wings or at the tail base as they mature over four to five years.

Young Bald Eagles are dark brown all over, resembling large Golden Eagles to beginners. The key difference: immature Balds have white patches under the wings and on tail feathers that appear as they age, while Golden Eagles show uniform dark plumage. By age three or four, Balds develop white on the head and shoulders. If you see a large raptor with mottled white on the body or tail, it is likely a maturing Bald Eagle.

Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles have wingspans of 6.5 to 7.5 feet. Red-tailed Hawks span about 4 to 5 feet and weigh roughly one-third as much. Swainson's Hawks, also common in Wyoming, are similar in size to Red-tails and are often mistaken for young eagles. The key is watching flight: eagles soar flat-winged or with a slight dihedral; smaller hawks circle tighter and flap frequently. An eagle at distance will dwarf a hawk when flying side by side.

Bald Eagles have a heavy, triangular bill and large talons visible when perched. Golden Eagles also have a heavier head and bill than any hawk in the state. Swainson's Hawks and Ferruginous Hawks can look large, but their heads are proportionally smaller and their bills more slender. When a Bald or Golden Eagle opens its wings, the primary flight feathers separate into distinct finger-like tips; hawks' wings appear swept and compact.

Golden Eagles are entirely dark brown or blackish-brown, with a golden or rusty wash on the crown and nape. The face is dark, and the cere at the base of the bill is pale yellow. Unlike Bald Eagles, they never develop white head markings. Shoulder feathering often appears slightly lighter or russet-brown in older birds, especially in good light, but they remain predominantly dark throughout their lives.

Bald Eagles produce high, thin whistling calls that sound surprisingly weak for such a large bird, often likened to a kite's cry or gull-like squeals. They do not produce the deep screech Hollywood assigns to them. Golden Eagles are usually silent, though in breeding territories they make low clucking or croaking sounds. Hawks like Red-tailed and Swainson's produce harsh mewing or screaming calls. A high thin whistle is your best clue to a Bald Eagle; silence favors a Golden Eagle.

Watch for silhouettes against the sky, especially over water, cliffs, or mountain ridges. Bald Eagles soar with flat or slightly upturned wings; Golden Eagles soar with a subtle V or dihedral. Eagle heads appear small relative to massive body and wings, while hawk heads look more prominent. Eagles fly very high and rarely flap; they ride thermals and ridge lift for minutes at a time. If you spot a large raptor circling lazily for over a minute without more than a few flaps, it is likely an eagle.

June, July, and August are peak months for eagle sightings in Wyoming. Bald Eagles are present year-round, particularly near open water and river valleys where they hunt fish. Golden Eagles range across open sagebrush, grasslands, and mountains and are also seen throughout the year, though more active during hunting season. Immature eagles are easier to see in spring and fall when juveniles disperse from nesting territories.

Ferruginous Hawks are the largest hawk in North America but still noticeably smaller than either eagle species. A Ferruginous Hawk's wingspan is roughly 4.5 to 5.5 feet; an eagle's is 6.5 feet or more. From the side, Ferruginous Hawks show rufous on the shoulders and upper legs, and their body is compact. Eagles have longer, narrower wings relative to body size and hold them flatter in soaring flight. Ferruginous Hawks have a dark or rufous patagium (leading edge of the wing), while Bald Eagles have uniform white or brown wings depending on age.

Bald Eagles perch in tall, sturdy trees with clear views of water below, such as cottonwoods along river valleys or large conifers on lakeshores. They also use rocky outcrops or bluffs. Golden Eagles perch on high ground or rocky points with views of open country and often nest on cliff faces in remote canyons. Both species prefer solitary, elevated perches where they can scan for prey without obstruction. Eagles' nests are massive stick structures, usually the largest in the area.