Sexing an eagle.

[Justinr]

One for our American friends here, was Old Abe male or Female? I'm doing a bit of research on he/her but it doesn't appear entirely clear and without close examination it's difficult to tell I believe. In photos she looks a large bird but without comparing her to one of the opposite sex that means little and sources differ on the subject. 

Is there a definitive answer?

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

I think you would have to ask Old Abe's mate, if any. Out of curiosity I checked several eagle identification sites, including the Cornell Lab, but none of them discussed adult gender differences.

The best site I found about the gender differences is this one:
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5972433_difference-male-female-bald-eagles.html

Unless you have Old Abe's measurements, it will be hard to tell. Females are generally bigger than males, have longer rear talons,  "deeper beak depths" (see the site), and lower voices.

[Justinr]

I think you would have to ask Old Abe's mate, if any. Out of curiosity I checked several eagle identification sites, including the Cornell Lab, but none of them discussed adult gender differences.

The best site I found about the gender differences is this one:
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5972433_difference-male-female-bald-eagles.html

Unless you have Old Abe's measurements, it will be hard to tell. Females are generally bigger than males, have longer rear talons,  "deeper beak depths" (see the site), and lower voices.

Aye, that's pretty much as far as I had got on the physical identification from the few photos that I had found. What puzzles me is that there doesn't seem to be a consensus on this basic fact despite it having what must be one of the most well documented of lives of any individual bird from the nineteenth century. I rather think that she was female but this was glossed over to a certain extent as troops would prefer to march into battle with a male mascot even though the female of that species is larger and better armed. But that's just a hunch. 

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

I suspect you are right about the macho attitudes of the military of that time. It is a bit ironic that the female seems to be larger, having a lower voice, and a longer rear talon, and thus fits the military role model much better than the male.

So lift a cup to good Old Abe-ina! 

[Rob C]

I want my money back: I thought this was about sexing an angel!

Rob C

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

We're all waiting for your word on that, Rob! 

[Patricia Sheley]

Dear Rob inhabits the breezes blowing across Cees Nooteboom, and probably is quite well informed regarding said determinations (regarding angels) ( on a side note, much the same with Australian Black Swans which we  raised for many years. The "examinations" always fell to me, as my accuracy rate was in the 98th percentile... the sexing was necessary as we sold them in pairs, one of each to breeders and pairs of females to museums and such who used them for chemical free pond cleaning as they went about their beautiful ways. I was also charged with the pre and post breeding "manuals" at breeding time each year (Morgan Horses)...

Resident hawks we have come to know quite well, coming to our call as they do for freshly placed road kill on their flight stands when providing for themselves, rabbit and anything larger, are always a comedy watching the males attempt the heavy lifting, only to step aside to the female's greater physical ability.

[Rob C]

Hi Patricia,

Well I can't vouch for genuine angels, as in the plural, their presence - so far - being confined to the memory of but a single human manifestation of same (female) to lend me conviction of their ultimate reality.

Of course, as with everything in this life - possibly even beyond - one has to be in a state of constant awareness and care must be taken to avoid false prophets.

With this very much in mind, I think I might offer this close encounter with a stony silence; very, very limited conversational qualities. I guess it wasn't the real thing at all, but it could just have been my hearing that day.

Possibly close, but not quite.

Rob C

[Patricia Sheley]

dear Rob... so familiar

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

A wonderful sequence, Patricia.

Eric

[Rob C]

A wonderful sequence, Patricia.

Eric

Indeed! Don't remember every looking at images quite that way. On closer scrutiny, reminds me of the Abbey Road cover.

Rob C

[Patricia Sheley]

A wonderful sequence, Patricia.

Eric
Quote Eric

Eric,  I have been really making the effort to see from the spaces between. You honor me allowing "sequence" to fall my way. Thank you.

Rob, I still wonder who ended up  with all the registration plates pulled from the VW in the shoot that day, and if the holders actually are aware of the significance. Amazing 10 minutes it must have been atop that ladder. Strangely, until you mentioned it, I didn't make the connection, but more bizarrely, that early morning next the sea I carried the distinct impression of floating there, from a higher place with no need of feet, let alone sandals... 

[Rob C]

A wonderful sequence, Patricia.

Eric
Quote Eric

Eric,  I have been really making the effort to see from the spaces between. You honor me allowing "sequence" to fall my way. Thank you.

Rob, I still wonder who ended up  with all the registration plates pulled from the VW in the shoot that day, and if the holders actually are aware of the significance. Amazing 10 minutes it must have been atop that ladder. Strangely, until you mentioned it, I didn't make the connection, but more bizarrely, that early morning next the sea I carried the distinct impression of floating there, from a higher place with no need of feet, let alone sandals...

I couldn't resist having my own little mind-trip after lunch today; couldn't get LuLa to fire on the cellphone, and so had to think, instead, for the duration of that uninspiring bar lunch. Bar lunch, with but a single glass of red wine. The alternative was watching the tv as a skeletal girl ran up and down in front of another screen touching numbers at the spin of a wheel... so sad and a measure of the quotidian for so many. I guess it wears into photography, too.

Rob C