IDENTIFICATION OF THE SEX CHROMOSOMES IN THE BALD EAGLE

Abstract

Karyotypes of five American bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus and H. alacanus) are compared. All had 2n = 66 chromosomes which fell into 3 size groups: A, 20 pairs of biarmed chromosomes; B, 9 pairs of acrocentric chromosomes and C, 4 pairs of microchromosomes. C-banding was done in two eagles and a heterochromatic W chromosome was identified in a presumptive female. The ZZ and ZW chromosomes could be identified in the karyotypes.