Juvenile Bald Eagle

Interestingly enough, Bald Eagles aren't really bald in the human sense of the word! "Balde" means white in Old English and in fact, each Bald Eagle takes 5-6 years to “go bald.” They have brown heads for a few years before maturing and developing white head feathers. This metamorphosis shows other eagles that they are ready to find a mate and settle down. This photo of was taken in this eagle's hatching year when the bird is almost completely brown headed.