Photograph of a pair of American bald eagles perched next to each other on the same large gray branch with out of focus branches and a blue sky in the background. The eagles are in the left frame and are turned to the right in profile. The eagle on the left appears to be an adult (5+ yrs) while the one on the right is a juvenile. Based on the brown and white mottled plumage, the juvenile may only be in its 1st or 2nd year. It takes 4-5 years for an eagle to acquire its adult feathers. During that transition time the eagle's feathers begin brown and then become mottled brown and white prior to the adult stage with a white head and tail as well as a brown body. Adult bald eagles have brown body feathers, white head and tail feathers, clear light yellow-green eyes with large pupils, yellow-orange beaks that curve downward to a point, yellow-orange legs, and yellow-orange feet that end in sharp black talons.

Photograph of the same pair of bald eagles except in this photo the adult eagles has just launched itself off the branch and is flying downward. The juvenile is still perched on the branch which has shifted upwards due to the lower weight and the juvenile is using its wings and body to maintain balance while the branch comes to a new equilibrium.

This photograph is similar to the last photo except the adult eagles is lower in the frame and the juvenile is still using its wings and body to adjust to the upward swing of the unburdened branch.

Photograph of a juvenile American bald eagle flying against a blue sky with a patch of out of focus branches in the lower right frame. The view is from below. The eagle's wings are spread wide, and the tip of its right wing reaches the upper left corner of the frame while the tip of its left wing reaches out and to its left. The eagle's under-tail, under-wing, legs, feet, belly, chest, neck, and head are visible. Adult bald eagles have brown body feathers, white head and tail feathers, clear light yellow-green eyes with large pupils, yellow-orange beaks that curve downward to a point, yellow-orange legs, and yellow-orange feet that end in sharp black talons. This is a juvenile bald eagle. It takes 4-5 years for an eagle to acquire its adult feathers. During that transition time the eagle's feathers begin brown and then become mottled brown and white prior to the adult stage with a white head and tail as well as a brown body.

Photograph of a juvenile American bald eagle flying against a blue sky with a patch of out of focus branches in the lower right frame. The view is from below. The eagle's wings are spread wide, and the tip of its right wing reaches the upper left corner of the frame while the tip of its left wing reaches out and to its left. The eagle's under-tail, under-wing, legs, feet, belly, chest, neck, and head are visible. Adult bald eagles have brown body feathers, white head and tail feathers, clear light yellow-green eyes with large pupils, yellow-orange beaks that curve downward to a point, yellow-orange legs, and yellow-orange feet that end in sharp black talons. This is a juvenile bald eagle. It takes 4-5 years for an eagle to acquire its adult feathers. During that transition time the eagle's feathers begin brown and then become mottled brown and white prior to the adult stage with a white head and tail as well as a brown body.