Preadults distinctive features


Just after leaving the nest, the young eagles have not the same feather colours as the adults, and they won’t until four or five years later. Before becoming an adult, they have to go through at least three moults of body feathers and two of flying feathers.


Picture of Josep Nogué

Picture of Josep Nogué

Picture of Josep Nogué


JUVENILE. First year of life

Breast, belly and flexor vertex reddish.

Lower part of the wings light-coloured.

Upper parts of body and wings tawny.

Usually without the white spot on the back.

 

IMMATUR. Second year of life

Reddish and brown-flecked breast.

Lower part of wings greyish, often with the old feathers light-coloured and the new ones darker.

Upper parts of the body tawny and brown.

The white spot on the back begins to appear.

 

SUBADULT. Third year of life

Dirty white belly and breast dark-flecked. Sometimes with reddish rests.

Lower part of wings dark grey.

Rests of juvenile plumage on the head.

From the fourth year on, the eagles have the adult plumage colours.

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