Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Linnaeus, 1766)

James, Helen F., 2020, The Irvingtonian Avifauna of Cumberland Bone Cave, Maryland, Zootaxa 4772 (1), pp. 111-131 : 120

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4772.1.4
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FA9664B5-0439-44E0-BDFA-485CF1C2CCEF
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3815456
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B6CA67-FFFE-FFEE-FF3F-F9837D2DF80A
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Haliaeetus leucocephalus
status

Treatment

Haliaeetus leucocephalus View in CoL

Material. USNM PAL 641982 About USNM , ungual phalanx: proximal 1/3, collected July 2002 .

Description. Agrees in size with the third or fourth ungual phalanx in H. leucocephalus and A. chrysaetos . Its small size and narrow articular cotyla suggest it is from the fourth digit. Although there is morphological overlap between the two species in this element, the fossil can be assigned to H. leucocephalus as opposed to A. chrysaetos based on the following combination of traits: articular cotyla narrower (proximal view) and with a tighter curve (lateral view), flexor tubercle bulbous and distended as opposed to crested and elongated.

Remarks. The assignment of this fossil to H. leucocephalus is based on morphological agreement but it comes with the caveat that comparisons with the Plio-Pleistocene fossil eagle from Florida and Arizona, Amplibuteo concordatus Emslie & Czaplewski 1999 , were not possible. However, based on the published measurements of its long bones, A. concordatus was smaller in body size than H. leucocephalus or A. chrysaetos . Haliaeetus leucocephalus currently occurs in the region of the cave.