Bald Eagle Chick Flapping Wing

A bald eagle chick (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), estimated to be about 10 days old, flaps one of its wings in its nest in Heritage Park, Kirkland, Washington. Eaglets are hatched with a coat of light-colored natal down, which has little insulating ability. After 10 days, the natal down begins to be replaced by thermal down. That transition is beginning to take place with this chick. Its wings and chest are covered with thermal down; its head and back are still covered with natal down. The change is typically complete by age 15 days, when the eaglets are able to regulate their body temperature on their own.

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A bald eagle chick (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), estimated to be about 10 days old, flaps one of its wings in its nest in Heritage Park, Kirkland, Washington. Eaglets are hatched with a coat of light-colored natal down, which has little insulating ability. After 10 days, the natal down begins to be replaced by thermal down. That transition is beginning to take place with this chick. Its wings and chest are covered with thermal down; its head and back are still covered with natal down. The change is typically complete by age 15 days, when the eaglets are able to regulate their body temperature on their own.