Eagles are large birds of prey that belong to the Accipitridae family. There are over 60 different species of eagles in the world, and they are found on every continent except Antarctica. Eagles are known for their large, hooked beaks, powerful talons, and excellent eyesight.
Many people assume that all eagles have white heads. This is a common misconception, as eagle head coloration actually varies between species. Some eagles do indeed have white heads, while others have brown, black, or golden heads. So do all eagles have white heads? The short answer is no, not all eagles have white heads. Head color depends on the specific species.
Eagles with White Heads
While not universal among all eagles, white head feathers are common in several species:
Bald Eagle
The bald eagle is arguably the most recognizable eagle species. Native to North America, bald eagles get their name from their conspicuous white head and tail feathers. Bald eagles have a dark brown body, yellow beak, and white head and tail as adults. Their white head is a key identifying feature.
African Fish Eagle
The African fish eagle is a large eagle species found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. It has distinctive brown and white coloration, with a white head, dark brown wings and back, and a white belly and tail. Its white head helps it camouflage when hunting for fish while wading in water.
Sanford’s Sea Eagle
Sanford’s sea eagle is a rare species found in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea. It has piercing yellow eyes and a mostly black body, with a distinctive white head and neck. Its white head contrasts sharply with its black wings.
Steller’s Sea Eagle
Steller’s sea eagle is a boldly patterned eagle living in coastal areas of Russia, Japan, and Korea. Named after explorer Georg Wilhelm Steller, this eagle has a white head, neck, and tail, with a dark brown body and wings. Its white head is a key field mark.
White-tailed Eagle
As its name suggests, the white-tailed eagle has a white tail and head. Its wings and back are dark brown. A huge bird native to Eurasia, the white-tailed eagle has a wingspan approaching 8 feet. Its white head and tail stand out clearly.
Verreaux’s Eagle
Verreaux’s eagle, also called the black eagle, is native to Africa. As a juvenile it has a brown body with some white markings, but as an adult it becomes jet black with contrasting white on the shoulders, head, and base of the tail.
Wedge-tailed Eagle
The wedge-tailed eagle is Australia’s largest predatory bird. It has brown plumage with white undersides on its wings. Its head is white with reddish-brown streaks. In flight, its white head and tail are obvious.
So while several eagle species have white heads, it is not a universal trait across all 60 types. Next, we’ll look at eagles with non-white heads.
Eagles with Non-White Heads
Many eagle species around the world do not have white head coloration. Here are some examples:
Golden Eagle
The golden eagle is one of the most common eagles in the Northern Hemisphere. True to its name, it has mostly brown plumage with a golden-colored head and neck. The legs, beak, eyes, and claws are also golden.
Martial Eagle
The martial eagle of sub-Saharan Africa is a fierce predator. It has dark brown plumage overall, with a grayish head that contrasts slightly with the very dark brown body and wings. It does not have white markings.
Philippine Eagle
Also known as the monkey-eating eagle, this massive bird endemic to the Philippines has an entirely brown/black plumage with a dark gray head. It has a receding brown Mohawk-like crest but no white.
Crowned Solitary Eagle
The crowned solitary eagle of tropical Africa is a crestless, non-social eagle with uniformly blackish plumage and dark brown eyes. Both its head and body are black.
Harpy Eagle
The harpy eagle of Central and South America is considered by many to be the most powerful eagle species. It has smoky-gray plumage on both its head and body, and does not have any white markings.
Spanish Imperial Eagle
Native to Spain and Portugal, the Spanish imperial eagle has tawny brown plumage with faint white markings on the wings and tail, but not on the head or neck. Its head is the same tawny brown color as its body.
Steller’s Sea Eagle
The Steller’s sea eagle is a large bird of prey inhabiting the coastal areas of Russia and northeast Asia. It gets its name from German naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller.
The Steller’s sea eagle has dark brown plumage over most of its body, with white feathers on the tail and wings. However, its head and neck are not white. Instead, the head is dark brown and contrasts with the paler whitish streaks on the bird’s nape and crown. The heavy yellow bill also stands out against the overall dark coloration.
So unlike the related bald eagle, the Steller’s sea eagle does not have a white head and neck. This demonstrates that even within the same genus, head coloration can vary significantly between different species.
Why Do Some Eagles Have White Heads?
The white head plumage found on many eagle species likely serves multiple purposes:
Camouflage
The white heads of eagles like the African fish eagle and Sanford’s sea eagle help them blend in while hunting fish or aquatic prey. The white allows them to avoid being detected from below.
Communication
An eagle’s striking white head feathers and contrasting body plumage help it stand out and communicate with other eagles at a distance. The contrast makes visual signals more obvious.
Heat Regulation
White feathers reflect more sunlight than dark feathers. A white head may help some eagles shed excess heat, while their darker body feathers absorb warmth. The color contrast helps regulate temperature.
Status Symbol
The brilliant white head plumage on eagles like the bald eagle indicates fitness, health, and social status. Eagles may use white heads to attract mates and communicate dominance.
So in most cases, the white head coloration provides some evolutionary advantage to the eagle species that bear it. It is not simply a coincidental trait.
Key Takeaways on Eagle Head Color
In summary:
– Not all eagles have white heads. Head color varies significantly among the 60+ species.
– Eagles with white heads include the bald eagle, African fish eagle, Steller’s sea eagle, and white-tailed eagle.
– Eagles without white heads include the golden eagle, crowned solitary eagle, harpy eagle, and Spanish imperial eagle.
– An eagle’s white head often serves as camouflage, communication, heat regulation, or status symbol.
– While many eagles have white heads, it is not a requirement or universal trait shared by all species in the Accipitridae family.
So while people often assume eagles come in two colors – white heads and dark bodies – the reality is much more diverse. Eagle head coloration ranges from white and golden, to various shades of gray and brown. Next time you see an eagle, take note of whether its head is white or not!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do bald eagles have white heads?
Bald eagles have white heads for several reasons. The white feathers help regulate temperature, camouflage the eagle while hunting fish, and indicate the eagle’s fitness as a mate. The white head contrasts with the dark brown body to make the eagle’s signals more obvious at a distance.
What percentage of eagles have white heads?
It’s estimated that around 30-40% of all eagle species worldwide have some white head plumage. Notable eagles with white heads include the African fish eagle, Steller’s sea eagle, Sanford’s sea eagle, bald eagle, and wedge-tailed eagle.
Do female eagles have different color heads than males?
In most eagle species, the male and female have identical head coloration. There are no sexual dimorphisms. However, in a few species like the wedge-tailed eagle, the female has slightly more white on the head than the male. But overall, males and females of the same eagle species share similar head color.
Why do some eagles have golden heads?
Eagles with golden heads include the golden eagle and the Australian wedge-tailed eagle. The golden brown head coloration provides camouflage while the eagle is soaring over open country hunting for prey. The golden brown shades blend in against dirt, rock, and dried grass landscapes.
What is the most common eagle head color besides white?
Brown is likely the most common eagle head color aside from white. Brown provides useful camouflage for forest-dwelling eagles like the crowned solitary eagle and Philippine eagle. Gray is another common non-white head color seen in eagles like the African martial eagle.
Conclusion
Eagle head coloration is diverse, ranging from snow white to golden brown to jet black. While the striking white heads of bald eagles draw the most attention, they do not represent the full spectrum of eagles worldwide. An eagle’s particular head color results from evolutionary pressures like camouflage, communication, heat regulation, and sexual selection. So while people often assume eagles are white-headed, the reality is that head color varies considerably among the 60-plus species, with white, brown, golden, and gray being the most prevalent shades.