Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Distraction
Conflict Airborne Conflict
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors
During climb out from Philadelphia International the aircraft was climbing to maintain the initial altitude when I detected an object in my left peripheral vision. We were located just east of the downtown area of Philadelphia climbing through 4;500 feet. I turned my head and saw what appeared to be a four bladed unmanned aerial vehicle just west of our path and several hundred feet below the aircraft by the time we passed abeam the object. No evasive action was required nor taken.The controller was busy communicating to another aircraft and soon as the frequency cleared I reported seeing a 'drone' just to the west of us near the downtown area. We were given a new frequency to check in with New York Center. Upon checking in with New York I was told to contact Philadelphia Approach with a phone numberAfter completing my flight I contacted to the number. I was asked what type of vehicle it was. What color I thought it was; Brown or gold color. What weight did I think it was; I thought it was large but could not say if it was 50 pounds or more and estimated it might have been 500 feet below us. All these variables were difficult to estimate since we were climbing but I did appeared to large and did not appear to move.
CRJ-200 Captain reported observing a UAV during climbout from PHL.