Do the golden eagle babies look different from the bald eagle babies?
Yet another great question from Ferrisburg! Yes, golden eaglets look different than bald eaglets. When first hatched and as young nestlings (before feather growth starting at about 4 wks of age), golden eaglets are mostly white. Bald eaglets are much darker gray. Also, golden eaglets have a very noticeable yellow “cere” at the base of their bills, all through their nestling stage. Bald eagles do not; balds are uniformly dark. As golden eaglets age, they maintain a much lighter, whiter head than bald eagle nestlings. As they age they attain their very distinctive “golden” nape from which their name derives and which is the most obvious difference in older age eaglets. Check out some photos of both on the net and see for yourself!
