SIERRA NEVADA BIRDS – FEATHERS IN THE RANGE OF LIGHT Blog Post #16
California’s “Range of Light” is home to a diverse array of both colorful and cryptic birds (the feathers). It is my intent to use my passion for birds and photography to paint a story about 120 of the most common or most sought-after Sierra Nevada (Range of Light) birds by most nature enthusiasts.
Sierra Nevada Birds – Feathers in the Range of Light is a Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain
WHAT’S IN A NAME
Bald Eagle – Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Name roots: (ME. balled, “shining white”; F. aigle, L. aguila, “eagle”) (Gr. halos, “the sea”, aetos, “eagle”; Gr. leukos, “white”, kephalos, “head”)
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
In Bald Eagles, adult plumage (Definitive Basic Plumage) is acquired between 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 years of age. Definitive Basic Plumage is unmistakable, with the largely dark brown body contrasting starkly with the white head, tail, and tail coverts, and the yellow iris, beak, cere, legs, and feet.
DISTRIBUTION & OCCURRENCE IN THE SIERRA NEVADA
The Bald Eagle is an Uncommon Yearround Resident of the Sierra Nevada generally near lakes in the upper Foothill Woodlands through the Upper Montane biotic zones.
CONSERVATION STATUS – IUCN Red List Category
The Bald Eagle is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Redlist Classification Justification: This species has an extremely large range, the population trend appears to be increasing, and the population size is extremely large. For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern. (DataZone BAEA Link)
PLAYING WITH PHOTOSHOP – Paint Dabs Filter
Reflections of the Natural World 
Leave a comment