Hi, I'm a falconer in the area. Believe it or not, you've taken a photo of a crow cocking its head back just as the sunlight catches it. This gives the effect of a lighter-looking neck and head.

A bald eagle (immatures don't have the white head. That comes around 4 or 5 years into adulthood) weighs roughly 5 kilograms, which would cause that thin branch at the top of the tree to bend too much for it to perch on as well. You'll see bald eagles when winter comes to the Hudson Valley:) Right now, they're feather molting well north of the border.

Mike Perrin
The Storm King School

Hey Mike. Thanks for the info. Many years ago folks were familiar with all the wildlife and plant life in their area. We have started to get back to that a little more, I hope. Keep it up!

This could actually be Indian house crow. They have grey heads, and their numbers are ever increasing in North America.

An adult baldie will have a white tail along with the white head. If it's a juvenile, it will be motted white and black all over. This is a corvid on all accounts (crow family). This photo is rather tricky with the light and distance factors. A Renaissance painter would've loved to play with it:)