Golden eagle

"Praise the Lord, O my soul... and forget not all his benefits... who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagel's". (Psalm 103:1-5)

Molting is the term used for the change of feathers that birds undergo periodically to keep them in good working order. One of the many species of eagle, the European Royal Eagle changes its flight feathers completely over a period of two years. During this time it suffers a certain degree of "physiological stress".

Its capacity to fly is impaired. Having fewer feathers, its body temperature drops and it requires more energy, and it looks less healthy and seems to have aged. However, when the molting period is over, its youth is renewed and it looks like a different bird altogether. 

I took this photo of a young Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) flying over the rugged hills surrounding Villarluengo (Teruel, Spain), at the beinning of the autumn.