11 Types of Eagles in Wyoming

Bald Eagles are unmistakable once you know what to look for. Adult Bald Eagles have a pure white head and neck contrasting sharply with a dark brown body and wings. The large hooked yellow beak and yellow feet are distinctive. Immature Bald Eagles, which are more common in Wyoming than many realize, are entirely dark brown and can be confused with Golden Eagles or large hawks. Immature birds do not develop their white head until they are four to five years old. In flight, Bald Eagles hold their wings flat and straight like a plank, and they fly with slower wingbeats than smaller raptors. Listen for their distinctive high-pitched call, which sounds nothing like the fierce scream you might expect.

Golden Eagles are less common in Wyoming than Bald Eagles but are still regular sightings, particularly in open and mountainous terrain. Adult Golden Eagles are uniformly dark brown with a golden sheen on the crown and nape of the neck. Unlike Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles never develop a white head. They are slightly smaller and more agile in flight than Bald Eagles. Golden Eagles hold their wings in a slight dihedral angle, or V-shape, when soaring, and they glide and hunt with quicker, more nimble movements. Golden Eagles have a darker overall appearance and can be distinguished from large hawks by their size, feathered legs that extend to the toes, and powerful build. In Wyoming, Golden Eagles often hunt in open country and are sometimes seen diving after prey in grasslands and canyons.

Red-tailed Hawks are the most abundant large raptor in Wyoming and account for over 1,100 sightings in iNaturalist data. They are often mistaken for eagles because of their size and hunting prowess. However, Red-tailed Hawks are noticeably smaller and stockier than both Bald and Golden Eagles. The defining feature of an adult Red-tailed Hawk is the rusty-red tail, visible in flight and when perched. Red-tailed Hawks have a brown head and body with a lighter chest, and their hooked beak is much smaller than an eagle's. Their legs are unfeathered and yellow. When soaring, Red-tailed Hawks hold their wings in a slight V-shape, and they hunt from perches or while soaring by pitching and diving more sharply than eagles.

No, Swainson's Hawks are medium-sized hawks found widely across Wyoming grasslands and rangelands. With about 463 sightings, they are the third most-documented raptor in the state. Swainson's Hawks are smaller and slimmer than both Bald and Golden Eagles. They have long, pointed wings and a longer tail than Red-tailed Hawks. Most Swainson's Hawks show a distinctive dark chest patch and pale underparts. They are highly migratory and rare in Wyoming during winter months. Swainson's Hawks hunt while soaring in a light, buoyant manner typical of smaller raptors, and they often hunt insects and small prey rather than the larger prey eagles target.

Ferruginous Hawks are the largest hawks in North America and are sometimes confused with eagles at a distance, though they are still hawks, not eagles. Wyoming has about 113 iNaturalist observations of Ferruginous Hawks. They are primarily winter visitors and migrants in Wyoming, becoming more common from late September through early spring. Ferruginous Hawks have a massive, robust build with feathered legs and a large head. They show two color morphs in Wyoming: a light morph with pale underparts and dark markings on the shoulder and leg feathers, and a darker morph with rusty underparts. Their behavior is sluggish compared to eagles; they hunt from perches and soar on rigid wings in a dihedral angle.

Both Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles are present year-round in Wyoming, though their numbers fluctuate seasonally. Bald Eagles are most common in summer and early fall, with August showing the highest sightings at 683 observations. Winter populations drop significantly, with only about 103 sightings in December and 141 in January, yet breeding pairs remain on the state's larger lakes and reservoirs. Golden Eagles are more evenly distributed throughout the year and are year-round residents in suitable habitat. Golden Eagles breed in Wyoming's mountain ranges and canyon country and can be seen in these areas throughout the year, though they become more dispersed in winter.

Summer months are peak season for eagle sightings in Wyoming. July, August, and June show the highest numbers, with August at 683 sightings. This is when juvenile eagles and young birds become active and visible, and when feeding birds are more active. Late spring through early fall provides the best conditions for spotting both species. Bald Eagles are especially visible near large bodies of water like Yellowstone Lake, Jackson Lake, and Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Golden Eagles are easier to spot in open terrain and mountainous areas during the same period. Winter offers different opportunities; although overall numbers drop, Bald Eagles concentrate around areas where water remains unfrozen and prey is available, making them more predictable to find in those specific locations.

Northern Harriers with 213 sightings are slim, low-flying raptors with distinctive white rumps that are never eagles. Cooper's Hawks with 102 sightings and Sharp-shinned Hawks with 78 sightings are smaller woodland hunters that some beginners mistake for young eagles, but they are much smaller and built for agility in dense trees. All true hawks in Wyoming are smaller, have different wing and tail proportions, and show different hunting behaviors than eagles. Field guides and online resources from the Audubon Society provide side-by-side comparisons that help distinguish even immature Bald Eagles from similar-sized raptors. Size, behavior, and habitat are the three most reliable identification markers for separating eagles from the various hawk species present in the state.

Yes, both species can occur in the same areas, particularly in Wyoming's mountain parks and large water systems. Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton, and the Wind River country host both species, though Bald Eagles are much more strongly associated with large water bodies. Golden Eagles prefer more open, rocky, and arid terrain including high plateaus, canyons, and grasslands. If you see two eagles together, compare their plumage color and head pattern; adult Bald Eagles' white heads make them immediately distinct from any Golden Eagle. Immature Bald Eagles are darker overall and require careful comparison of size, flight style, and head shape to separate from Golden Eagles. Many of Wyoming's premier eagle-watching locations offer guided tours that teach these differences in the field.