Sky Watch
by Nava Thompson
Title
Sky Watch
Artist
Nava Thompson
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
A photo taken by Nava Thompson of a Bald Eagle in Bella Vista Arkansas in the early spring.................................. The plumage of an adult Bald Eagle is evenly dark brown with a white head and tail. The tail is moderately long and slightly wedge-shaped. Males and females are identical in plumage coloration, but sexual dimorphism is evident in the species in that females are 25% larger than males..................The beak, feet and irides are bright yellow. The legs are feather-free, and the toes are short and powerful with large talons. The highly developed talon of the hind toe is used to pierce the vital areas of prey while it is held immobile by the front toes.[3] The beak is large and hooked, with a yellow cere..................... The adult Bald Eagle is unmistakable in its native range. The closely related African Fish Eagle (H. vocifer) (from far outside of the Bald Eagle's range) also has a brown body, white head and tail, but differs from the Bald in having a white chest and black tip to the bill..........................The plumage of the immature is a dark brown overlaid with messy white streaking until the fifth (rarely fourth, very rarely third) year, when it reaches sexual maturity..........................Immature Bald Eagles are distinguishable from the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), the only other very large, non-vulturine bird in North America, in that the former has a larger, more protruding head with a larger beak, straighter edged wings which are held flat (not slightly raised) and with a stiffer wing beat and feathers which do not completely cover the legs. When seen well, the Golden Eagle is distinctive in plumage with a more solid warm brown color than an immature Bald Eagle, with a reddish-golden patch to its nape and (in immature birds) a highly contrasting set of white squares on the wing.[6] Another distinguishing feature of the immature Bald Eagle, over the mature bird is the fact that the immature bird has a black beak with a yellow tip, while the mature eagle has a fully yellow beak..................The Bald Eagle has sometimes been considered the largest true raptor (accipitrid) in North America. The only larger species of raptor-like bird is the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus), a New World vulture which today are not generally considered a taxonomic ally of true accipitrids.[7] However, the Golden Eagle, averaging 4.18 kg (9.2 lb) and 63 cm (25 in) in wing chord length in its American race (A. c. canadensis), is merely 455 g (1.00 lb) lighter in mean body mass and exceeds the Bald Eagle in mean wing chord length by around 3 cm (1.2 in).[5][8] Additionally, the Bald Eagle's close cousins, the relatively longer-winged but shorter-tailed White-tailed Eagle and the overall larger Steller's Sea Eagle (H. pelagicus), may rarely vagrate to coastal Alaska from Asia.................... A recording of a Bald Eagle at Yellowstone National Park....................The Bald Eagle has a body length of 70�102 centimeters (28�40 in). Typical wingspan is between 1.8 and 2.3 m (5.9 and 7.5 ft) and mass is normally between 3 and 6.3 kilograms (6.6 and 14 lb).[5] Females are about 25% larger than males, averaging 5.6 kg (12 lb), and against the males' average weight of 4.1 kg (9.0 lb).[2][9][10][11] The size of the bird varies by location and generally corresponds with Bergmann's rule, since the species increases in size further away from the Equator and the tropics. The smallest specimens are those from Florida, where mature males may weigh as little as 2.3 kg (5.1 lb) and have a wingspan of 1.68 m (5.5 ft). Similarly small, eagles from South Carolina average 3.27 kg (7.2 lb) in mass and 1.88 m (6.2 ft) in wingspan.[12] The largest eagles are from Alaska, where large females may weigh up to 7.5 kg (17 lb) and span 2.44 m (8.0 ft) across the wings.[4][13] A survey of adult weights in Alaska showed that females weighed on average 6.3 kg (14 lb) and males weighed 4.3 kg (9.5 lb).[14] Among standard linear measurements, the wing chord is 51.5�69 cm (20.3�27 in), the tail is 23�37 cm (9.1�15 in) long, and the tarsus is 8 to 11 cm (3.1 to 4.3 in).[5][15] The culmen reportedly ranges from 3 to 7.5 cm (1.2 to 3.0 in), while the measurement from the gape to the tip of the bill is 7�9 cm (2.8
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September 7th, 2013
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Comments (26)
Jennifer White
Congratulations your wonderful photo has been featured in the Ozarks Photo Art Collection Group. You are invited to post your featured image in the featured image discussion thread as a permanent place to continue to get exposure even after the image is no longer on the Home Page.
Steve Marler
Nava my wife Linda and I enjoyed meeting you and your husband John at lake Ann in Bella Vista this weekend. This is a very nice Eagle photo. If you would like to get more Eagle photos in the wild I can help you. I can let you know when the Eagles have returned If you don't mind traveling for about three hours from Bentonville.
Nava Thompson replied:
Hi Steve---yes, it was fun to meet both of you. We have them here---but I can't get close enough with out going onto private property. Thank you. Also---was thinking about some sunflower fields that might be up that way. (?)
Debby Pueschel
Stunning Bald Eagle! They are truly magnificent! VF
Nava Thompson replied:
Thank you Debby---the Eagle shots in the wild have not come easy for me--so I appreciate your comments. :)
Nava Jo Thompson
Thank you Sandra for choosing 'Sky Watch' to feature in the 'Surprise' thread in WFS .
Sandra Clark
Wow wonderful capture
Nava Thompson replied:
Sandra--it means a lot to me for you to choose this Eagle to feature in WFS for a surprise promotion. I have tried for 3 years---going here and there in all kinds of weather---trying to get a good Eagle shot. Thank you very much!
Carol Wisniewski
A Beautiful Majestic Image Nava, How proud he looks! v.
Nava Thompson replied:
Thank you Carol--I like your comments about his expression. Appreciate the vote!
Hanne Lore Koehler
Fantastic capture of this magnificent eagle, Nava!!! Amazing composition and clarity! V/F
Nava Thompson replied:
Thank you Hanne for visiting 'Sky Watch'---these have not been easy for me to find in the wild. Appreciate your support. :)
Nava Jo Thompson
Thank you Julian for the feature of 'Sky Watch' in Landscape and Wildlife Photography
Pema Hou
Wow, what an awesome capture, Nava Jo! Congratulations on the feature on WFS home page. V/F
Nava Jo Thompson
Thank you Randy for the feature of 'Sky Watch' in Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery' group! Much appreciate your encouraging support and all the work to keep the group spinning like a top!
Ms Judi
Congrats on the Feature...Fantastic and Beautiful capture with great details in this shot! V/F ✩✩✩✩✩ =) "Seen in Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery Group"
Deb Halloran
Nava Jo, WOW!! What a fantastic capture of this majestic and proud Bald Eagle!! Beautiful colors, textures and amazing details..exceptional composition. Exquisite work of art. v/f
Nava Thompson replied:
Thank you Deb for the great comments. I have to confess that Eagles in the wild have not been easy for me--I have stood out in freezing weather pressed up against barbwire trying to shoot across private land. This one came fairly close by. :) Appreciate your visit and f/v!
Randy Rosenberger
It is an honor and a privilege as an administrator of one of the top groups on FAA, our Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery group, to promote and highlight your awesome artworks on our homepage in one of the prestigious positions, on our group Featuring HOMEPAGE! Your artworks show your love of what you do, and is refined to where we not only accept and promote your fine works, but welcome that opportunity. It is a pleasure to have you as a member of our family of friends and fine artists in the WFS group. Thanks for sharing! Fave and Vote Forever, Elvis
Nava Thompson replied:
Thank you Randy for your encouragement with your promotion and continual support! It is very much appreciated. Thank you for the feature in Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery group!