On March 8, 1992 Anna & I were watching a bald eagle with mottled markings
in a tree near the model airplane field at Marymoore Park near Bellevue,
WA. The tree had a large nest in it. A mature bald eagle approached and
the eagle in the tree took to wing. The two clenched talons and tumbled 2
or 3 times in the air. Then they separated. Both climbed and soared.
Because one of the eagles had mottled markings we assumed this was not
courting. Any suggestions on how we should view this behavior?

Steven S. Coles
Seattle, Washington State, U.S.A.
<scoles at zebu.serv.net>