Identifying Golden Eagles & White-Tailed Eagles: A Complete Guide

David Coultham

Updated on:

The British Isles are home to two distinct species of eagles: the White-Tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). This guide will help you identify these majestic birds, but first, it’s important to consider the Buzzard, a bird that is often misidentified as an eagle.

The Buzzard, particularly the Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), is seen in various habitats across the British Isles and has been colloquially referred to as a “tourist eagle” in Scotland due to it being so frequently misidentified by visitors to the country. To properly identify whether you’re observing a Buzzard or an Eagle, consider the following distinctions.

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Video | Identification Guide – Golden Eagle, White-Tailed Eagle, Buzzard

Common Buzzard

Appearance

The Common Buzzard is a large raptor known for its versatile presence in habitats shared with eagles. When identifying a Common Buzzard, look for its compact and stocky shape, often seen perching on the ground or posts. In flight, its wings are held in a V shape, displaying a mix of light and dark patches, with a pale chest and a dark carpal patch. Notably, Buzzards have five outer primary feathers visible while soaring, which can sometimes lead to confusion with eagles, especially the Golden Eagle.

Image Credit | DennisJacobsen

Biometrics

Key identification features of the Buzzard include:

  • Wingspan: Approximately 1.2 meters.
  • Wing Shape: Rounded wings in contrast to the more square and broad wings of eagles.

Call

Another aspect to consider when you are trying to identify whether you are looking at a Buzzard or an Eagle is the Call. Buzzards have a distinctive call compared to that of an Eagle. They are very vocal birds; especially in flight. They frequently call to announce their territory and to signal to other Buzzards in their group.

Buzzard Call:

Jacobo Ramil Millarengo xeno-canto.org

Golden Eagle

Appearance

The Golden Eagle is predominantly found in the remote Northwestern Uplands of Scotland and parts of Northwest Ireland. They are significantly larger than Buzzards, with longer wings and tails. When in flight, Golden Eagles hold their wings flat or at a slight upward angle. Juvenile Golden Eagles may show white patches on their tails and primaries, which fade as they mature. Their beaks are mostly black with a gray base and have a distinctive yellow nasal area.

Image Credit | DennisJacobsen

Biometrics

Key features to identify the Golden Eagle include:

  • Size: Nearly double that of a Buzzard, with a wingspan ranging from 1.8 to 2.3 meters.
  • Plumage: Adults exhibit dark feathers with a paler ridge on the upper wings and golden feathers on the nape of their necks.
  • Wing Shape: An S-shaped wing profile with six prominent fingers.

Call

Golden Eagles are not very vocal birds. Their calls are generally high pitched and weak sounding. However, they are more vocal during the breeding season, when the high-pitched begging calls of their nestlings can sometimes be heard over large distances.

Golden Eagle Call:

Vaslin Matthieu xeno-canto.org

White-Tailed Eagle

Appearance

The White-Tailed Eagle, successfully reintroduced to the British Isles, can be found breeding in small numbers in Western Scotland and Ireland. These eagles are often associated with remote coastal cliffs but are equally at home hunting in wetlands and lowland areas.

Older White-Tailed Eagles can develop very white heads and necks, which may lead to confusion with Golden Eagles. However, their large pale yellow bill is usually recognizable, except at a distance. Younger individuals may be brown overall with a mix of lighter and darker markings, along with a darker bill.

Image Credit | DennisJacobsen

Biometrics

Characteristics of the White-Tailed Eagle include:

  • Size: Slightly larger than the Golden Eagle, with a wingspan of up to 2.4 meters.
  • Body Shape: A distinctive front-heavy appearance due to short tails, prominent heads, and large bills.
  • Wing Structure: Broad, straight wings with visible finger feathers at the tips, typically showing six or seven fingers in flight. Noting that the wing profile is flat compared to the Golden Eagle.

Call

The White-Tailed Eagle is vocal during the breeding season, but considering its size, the calls are not particularly loud. Males often call with sounds like “gri-gri-gri” or “krick-krick-krick”, while females have deeper calls such as “gra-gra-gra” or “krau-krau-krau”.

Mateusz Gutowski xeno-canto.org

By keeping these identifying features in mind, you can enhance your birdwatching experience and accurately distinguish between the two native Eagles and the Buzzards in the British Isles.



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