Is there a bird that could easily be mistaken for a bald eagle from a distance?

Question

I'm fairly sure bald eagles aren't common in the southern US, but I'm also unaware of any wild birds posesing dark bodies with a white head.

I saw what I think was an eagle in a feild the other day, apparently muching out on some dead something. Do you think that's likely? Even possible? Deffinantly wasn't a buzzard or vulture, and the think was freaking huge.

Answer 1

they have released many bald eagles in the southern US, more than likey what you saw was an eagle

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Bald Eagles are actually making a very nice return to the southern states. There were 19 active nests on the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge here in east-central Florida last year. If you're near water though, there are also osprey which are regularly misidentified as bald eagles. Eagles are actually much larger than osprey. Osprey have a white chest and some brownish markings on the face, which of course bald eagles do not have. But that's the only bird that I can think of that's a common misidentifier.

http://birdsofsanibel.free.fr/images/20030717/Osprey%20In%20Tree%20At%20Dunes.jpg%20x.jpg

http://mayo.personcounty.net/Osprey.jpg

http://www.ackerlunds.com/httpdocs/images/Bald_eagle.jpg

http://www.akwildlife.com/GRAPHICS/EagleScreenshot.jpg

Hope I helped.

Answer 4

Bald Eagles typical live very close to water. Their primary diet is fish that they catch. The other possibility could be a Turkey Vulture. Immature Vultures have Grey or white heads. If it was on the ground that might be a possibility. Turkey Vultures can be very big especially the females.

Answer 5

African fish eagles and white tailed sea eagles are often confused as bald eagles. however i'm sure the bird you saw was a bald eagle.

Answer 6

Birds Mistaken For Bald Eagles