Understanding aquila - Aging of aquila clanga

In aging aquila eagle is always best separate using moult cycle but in some case such as the Greater Spotted Eagle, aging can also be done using plumage as well. This is usually based on the white spot coverage to the bird. Honestly it can be also confusing as I got one of my bird earlier age miss by a bit, but will be placed here for again as well.

Here it is important to look carefully-mistake i did in the earlier post- count properly and also have to be 100% concentration when doing aging. See below for all the aging variation

1st year

Greater Spotted Eagle
(©Terence Ang)

Greater Spotted Eagle
(©Terence Ang)

Second calender year will show a slightly variation on the white spot where should show lesss white spot. Absent of white dot on the shoulder as well. However I cant find a good photo to represent that.

I cant find a good picture to show the 3rd year and the best is this 3rd year more advance plumage can be observed here picture from OBI. This photo here from Ben facebook is one of the best I have seen.

4th Year is also difficult to get. Picture below show ending of 3rd year plumage entering 4th. You can see the white spot on wing is degrading and becoming absent.

Greater Spotted Eagle
(©Terence Ang)

Adult can be seen here in this picture from OBI.