NEW JERSEY Q. What is the difference between the bald and golden eagle and how did they get their names?
A. The primary difference is that bald eagles belong to a group of “sea” eagles who live in or near aquatic environments and are piscivorous (fish eaters); golden eagles belong to an entirely different group of eagles known as true or “booted” (legs with feathers versus scales) eagles and are upland eagles, meaning they are not near water; they hunt upland mammals mostly versus fish. These are just 2 of about 59 species of eagles worldwide, but the only two which we have here in north america (except for another species that occasionally shows up in extreme southwest Alaska). The “bald” eagle got it’s name from the old english word “balde” which means white-headed (not hairless!). “Golden” eagles likely got there name from the top and back of their head and neck which are a beautiful golden color. Iselin Middle School ims@gorgon.
