Bald eagle

The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a bird of prey found in North America. It lives near large bodies of open water with plenty of food and old trees for nesting. Its range includes most of Canada and Alaska, all of the contiguous United States, and northern Mexico.

Bald eagles mainly eat fish, which they catch by swooping down and grabbing them from the water with their talons. They build the largest nests of any North American bird, with some nests up to 4 metres deep and weighing as much as a car. These birds become able to reproduce at around four to five years old.

Although called "bald", these eagles are not hairless. The name comes from an older meaning of the word, referring to their white heads. Adult bald eagles have brown bodies with white heads and tails. Females are about 25% larger than males. Young eagles have brown feathers until they grow older.

The bald eagle is the national bird and national symbol of the United States, appearing on its seal. In the late 20th century, their numbers dropped because of hunting and a harmful pesticide called DDT. After laws were passed to protect them, their populations recovered, and they are no longer considered endangered.

Taxonomy

The bald eagle is a type of sea eagle and belongs to the genus Haliaeetus. Its name comes from the white feathers on its head, which stand out against its darker body.

The scientific name of the bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, was first given by a scientist named Carl Linnaeus a long time ago. The bald eagle shares a close relationship with the white-tailed eagle found in Europe and Asia. These two birds look similar and live in similar ways, even though they are from different places.

Description

Adult bald eagles have dark brown bodies with white heads and tails. They have bright yellow beaks, feet, and eyes. Both males and females look the same, but females are about 25% larger than males.

Young bald eagles have dark brown feathers with messy white patches. They look different from golden eagles, which are another large bird in North America. Bald eagles can be quite large, with wingspans up to about 2.3 meters (7 feet 7 inches). Females are usually bigger than males. Their size can change depending on where they live, with those in colder areas tend to be larger. Bald eagles make weak, chirping calls, similar to the sound of a gull.

Range

The bald eagle lives in most of North America, including Canada, the continental United States, and northern Mexico. It is the only sea eagle that is found only in North America. These birds live in many different places, from the bayous of Louisiana to the Sonoran Desert and the forests of Quebec and New England. Birds in the north move to warmer places when it gets cold, while birds in the south stay in the same area all year.

In the past, bald eagles were mostly found in Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, parts of Canada, and Florida. But since 1966, their numbers have grown a lot. By 2018, they were nesting in every state and province in the United States and Canada. Many bald eagles in Canada live along the coast of British Columbia, and big groups are also in the forests of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. In winter, from November to February, up to two thousand bald eagles gather in Squamish, British Columbia, between Vancouver and Whistler, where they eat salmon. In March 2024, bald eagles were seen nesting in Toronto for the first time. Similar gatherings happen in the Northern United States where fish are easy to find.

Habitat

The bald eagle lives in many types of wet areas in North America, like near seacoasts, rivers, large lakes, and marshes. These areas need lots of fish and big bodies of water.

Bald eagles build their nests in tall, old trees close to water. These trees give them good visibility and are tall enough to spot their food easily. They prefer trees that are at least 20 meters tall and close to where they can find fish. Their nests can be very big, with the largest one found being almost 3 meters wide and over 6 meters deep.

Behavior

Bald eagles are strong fliers that can glide and flap at speeds of 56–70 km/h (35–43 mph). When carrying fish, they fly at about 48 km/h (30 mph). They can dive at speeds between 120–160 km/h (75–99 mph), but they don’t often dive straight down. Even though they aren’t built for super-fast dives like golden eagles, bald eagles are quite nimble in the air. They have been seen catching up to geese in flight, flipping over, and grabbing them with their talons.

These birds may move to different places depending on where they live. If they live near open water that freezes in winter, they will travel south or to the coast to find food. Young bald eagles often travel away from their homes after breeding. They choose paths that use rising air currents called thermals and updrafts, as well as places where they can find food. Migration usually happens during the day, between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., when the sun helps create these rising air currents.

thermal golden eagles migratory updrafts

Diet and feeding

Bald eagles eat a variety of foods, often depending on what is available. Fish are a major part of their diet, especially in areas near water. They catch fish by swooping down and grabbing it with their strong claws. They also eat birds, mammals, and sometimes even dead animals they find.

Bald eagles are good hunters and can catch birds in flight or take eggs from nests. They sometimes work together to catch larger animals. They also eat dead animals, which they find on the ground or steal from other animals. This helps them get food when it's hard to find live prey.

In different places, bald eagles eat different types of fish, birds, and small animals. They are flexible in their eating habits, which helps them survive in many environments.

Reproduction

Bald eagles become ready to breed when they are four or five years old. They often return to the place where they were born to find a mate. These birds usually stay with the same partner for life. If one bird in a pair is lost, the other will find a new partner.

When bald eagles are ready to breed, the males show off with special calls and exciting flights. They might chase each other and fly high together. Bald eagles often build large nests in tall trees near water. These nests can grow very big over many years. The birds lay their eggs in late February, and the eggs hatch in April or May. The baby birds, called eaglets, leave the nest and learn to fly around eight to fourteen weeks later. Both male and female eagles take care of the eggs and the young.

Longevity and mortality

Bald eagles can live about 20 years in the wild, and some have been known to live even longer in captivity. In one case, an eagle in New York lived almost 50 years.

Most deaths of young eagles happen before their first year. Some lose their nests, get too cold or hot, or are eaten by other animals like gulls, ravens, or crows. Eagles work hard to protect their nests and have been seen chasing away even big animals like bears.

Relationship with humans

Population decline and recovery

Bald eagles were once common across North America, but their numbers dropped sharply in the mid-20th century. One big reason was a pesticide called DDT, which made it hard for the birds to lay strong eggs. Other problems included losing their homes and being hunted. By the 1950s, there were only about 412 pairs left in the contiguous states of the U.S.

Laws were passed to protect bald eagles, and in 1972, DDT was banned in the United States. This helped the eagles recover. Today, their numbers are growing again, especially near water. Alaska has the most bald eagles, followed by British Columbia. The bald eagle was taken off the list of endangered species in 2007.

The bald eagle was taken off the U.S. list of endangered species in 2007. In some places, more eagles have meant fewer of other birds, and sometimes they are seen as a problem.

Killing permits

In December 2016, rules were suggested to let wind farms accidentally harm up to 4,200 bald eagles each year for 30 years without punishment, which is four times more than before and for much longer.

In captivity

To keep bald eagles in places like schools or museums, you need special permission. These eagles are usually ones that can't live in the wild anymore. They need good homes and careful care. In some places, bald eagles can be used in shows, but not for hunting sports.

Cultural significance

The bald eagle holds great meaning in many Native American cultures and is the national symbol of the United States, often seen on seals, logos, coins, and stamps linked to the U.S. federal government.

In some North American cultures, the bald eagle is a sacred bird. Its feathers are very important for religious and spiritual traditions. Many powwow dancers wear eagle claw in their outfits. Eagle feathers are used in ceremonies, like in fans and regalia. For example, in Navajo tradition, an eagle feather is seen as a protector. The Lakota give eagle feathers as symbols of honor, such as after graduating from college. The Pawnee see eagles as symbols of fertility, and the Choctaw view the bald eagle as a symbol of peace.

During the Sun Dance practiced by many Plains Indian tribes, eagles are represented in many ways, like using eagle feathers in fans for healing.

The bald eagle became the national symbol of the United States in 1782. It appears on important government seals, like the presidential seal. Some stories say it was chosen because it looks strong, though one leader, Benjamin Franklin, jokingly said he didn’t like it very much in a letter.