The Eaglet in the Caucus-race chapter is an eagle.
The Eaglet is one of the birds and animals gathered after Alice falls into the pool of tears. Alice addresses it as “Eaglet,” a word that conventionally means a young eagle. It joins the Dodo, Lory, Duck, Mouse, and other creatures in the chaotic attempt to dry themselves through the Caucus-race.
The race has no course, winner, or starting signal. The Dodo simply announces that everyone should run in circles until they are dry, and then declares everyone a winner. The scene parodies organized public activities while also drawing on the real boating party and animals associated with Carroll’s original storytelling.
Readers may choose “Lory” or “Dodo” because those birds are more prominent in the episode, but the names identify separate characters. A lory is a small, colourful parrot, while a dodo is an extinct flightless bird. “Eaglet” is not a mysterious species or a nickname for one of them; it directly signals a juvenile eagle. Carroll’s animal cast often uses ordinary names in deliberately absurd situations.