Tom Cotner posted: After a series of piercing introductory cries that
echoed down the canyon, the eagles suddenly locked talons and plummeted
more than 2000 feet!! before disengaging only about 100-200 feet above the
ground.

And Herb Curl responded:
My recollection is that this is mating behavior and occurs in Bald Eagles
as well as Golden Eagles.

It's mating behavior in bald eagles, which is what drove me to the
Handbook because I was uncertain in regard to goldens (and almost
posted a response stating it was mating behavior before looking it
up).

So: mating behavior in balds, territorial in goldens.

(goldens will tumble indivdually as part of their display flights,
but very rarely).

Fascinating, no? Of course, they're not particularly closely related,
they're both just BIG.

So, here's the $64 (or seven continent) question:

Do all Haliaeetus sp. tumble tangled as part of their mating
display? And do all Aquila sp. only do so as part of territorial
disputes? Does anyone mind if I occasionally post on bird subjects?


- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>