While monitoring an osprey nest from a dock in the Potomac River, I was surprised at how many folks referred to the birds as bald eagles. I suppose it’s much like the beaver/muskrat confusion. If you’re not used to seeing them, it can be difficult to tell them apart.
Side by side, it’s easy – adult bald eagles are larger than adult osprey and have more white on their heads and tail feathers. Osprey have white on their undersides. Adult bald eagles have yellow legs, while osprey have grey. Here are a few photos to illustrate the difference.
Osprey on nest
Osprey preparing nest
Nest repair in progress
Osprey surfing 🙂
Osprey in flight
Adult osprey pair
Osprey adult and chick.
Osprey chick
Hellow world! Osprey chick
Osprey adult and chicks
Osprey chicks
Osprey adult and two chicks
Osprey adult with two chicks
Osprey family – two adults and chicks
Juvenile osprey testing wings for first time
Juvenile osprey fledged
Bald eagle – Fountainhead Regional Park, Va.
Bald eagle – Fountainhead Regional Park, Va
Bald eagles zeroing in on fish
One catches, other ready to steal.
Bald eagle in flight
Bald eagle in flight
Not sharing! Bald eagle at Conowingo Dam, Md.
Bald eagle in flight – Conowingo Dam, Md.
Bald eagle – Mason Neck Park, Va.
Pair of bald eagles – Blackwater Wildlife Refuge, Md.
