Washington Eagle (Falco Washingtonii)
This splendid bird is found in the mountain regions of Kentucky. It is the largest of all the Eagle tribe. Its length is three feet seven inches; extent of wings ten feet two inches; bill three inches and quarter. Length of wing folded thirty two inches; length of tail fifteen inches: middle claw four inches and three-quarters; hind claw two inches and a half. The upper parts of the body are dark, shining, coppery-brown; throat, front, and breast, rich cinnamon colour. The whole appearance of the bird grand and majestic.
Illustrative Anecdotes.
Mr. Nuttall says, "It is the the indefatigable Audobon that we owe the distinct notice and description of this noble Eagle, which first drew his attention while voyaging far up the Mississippi, in the month of February, 1814. At length, he had the satisfaction of discovering its eyry in the high cliffs of the Green river in Kentucky, near to its junction with the Ohio; two young were discovered loudly hissing from a fissure in the rocks, on the approach of the male, from whom they received a fish. The female now also came, and with solicitous alarm for the safety of her young. Gave a loud scream, dropped the food she had brought, and hovering over the molesting party, kept up a growling and threatening cry by way of intimidation; and, in fact, as our disappointed naturalist soon discovered, she from this time forsook the spot, and found means to convey away her young. The discoverer considers the species as rare; indeed , its principal residence appears to be in the northern parts of the continent, particularly the rocky solitude around the great north-western lakes, where it can at all times collect its finny prey, and rear its young without the dread of man. In the winter season, about January and February, as well as at a later period of the spring, these birds are occasionally seen in this vicinity,* rendered perhaps bolder and more familiar by want, as the prevalence of the ice and cold, at this season, drives them to the necessity of wandering further than usual in search of food. At this early period, Audobon observed indications of the approach of the breeding season. They are sometimes seen contending in the air, so that one of the antagonists will suddenly drop many feet donwards as if wounded or alarmed. My friend, Dr. Hayward of Boston, had in his possession one of these fine docile Eagles for a considerable time; but desirous of devoting it to the Linnaeum Museum, he attempted to poison it, by corrosive sublimate of mercury; several times, however, doses even of two drams were given to it concealed in fish, without producing any injurious effect on its health.
"The Washington Eagle, bold and vigorous, disdains the piratical habits of the Bald Eagle, and invariably obtains his own sustenance without molesting the osprey. The circles he describes in his flight are wider that those of the White-headed Eagle; he also flies nearer to the land or the surface of the water; and when about to dive for his prey descends in circuitous, spiral rounds, as if to check the retreat of the fish, on which he darts only when within the distance of a few yards. When his prey is obtained, he flies out at a low elevation to a considerable distance to enjoy his repast at leisure.
"The quantity of food consumed by this enormous bird is very great, according to the account of those who have had them in confinement. Mr. Audobon's male bird weighed fourteen and a half pounds avoirdupois. One in a small museum in Philadelphia (according to the account of my friend Mr. C. Pickering), also a male weighed much more, by which difference it would appear that they are capable of becoming exceedingly fat; for the length of this bird was about the same as that of Audobon, three feet six or seven inches. The width, however, was only about seven feet, agreeing pretty nearly with ta specimen no in the New England Museum. The male of the Golden Eagle, the largest hitherto known, is seldom more than three feet long."
Taken From: Bilby, Thomas. "The Washington Eagle" Young Folks' Illustrated Book of Birds with many original and amusing anecdotes, New York: John Lovell, 188?, pp. 26-29.
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