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All About Bald Eagles!

All About Bald Eagles!

Written by: Peter Morrell

The bald eagle, also known as Haliaeetus leucocephalus, lives in North America and is classified as a bird of prey. It can be found in Alaska, Canada, the continental United States, and the northern part of Mexico. Usually, bald eagles are found near open water because they mostly eat fish, which they catch by flying over the water before swooping down to snatch their prey. The bald eagle is America's national bird and appears on the official United States seal. Although this bird was once considered an endangered species, its population has since rebounded.

Where Do Bald Eagles Live?

The bald eagle is the only sea eagle native to North America. Bald eagles live near bodies of water ranging from Louisiana bayous to the coast of British Columbia. Birds that live in the north migrate yearly, while southern eagles remain in their territory year-round. When the population of bald eagles fell during the 1950s, the birds were mostly only found in Alaska, the northern and eastern provinces of Canada, and the Aleutian Islands. Since the population has rebounded, bald eagles are now found in every state of the United States except for Hawaii and all Canadian provinces.

  • Around 2,000 bald eagles spend every winter in Squamish, British Columbia.
  • Bald eagles typically live around bodies of water so they can easily hunt fish, including salmon.
  • Twice, bald eagles have been found in Ireland. It's unclear why they wandered so far from home.

What Do They Look Like?

Although they are called bald eagles, these birds are not actually bald. They are called bald eagles because the word "bald" derives from "piebald," which used to mean "white-headed." All bald eagles have white heads, while their bodies, wings, and tails are brown. Males and females look the same, but females are usually around 25% bigger than male birds. Young eagles are mostly brown on their heads and their bodies.

  • The bills and legs of bald eagles are bright yellow.
  • Young birds usually achieve the plumage of adult birds around age five.
  • Bald eagles have distinctive beaks that are large, hooked, and yellow.

Bald Eagle Behavior

The bald eagle is a powerful flier. Its rapid dive speed also makes it a formidable hunter. Bald eagles are also very nimble fliers, which makes it harder to hunt them. Eagles who live near bodies of water that freeze during the winter migrate south to find running water, but if the water doesn't freeze in their home territory, they live there year-round. Migrating birds typically travel during the day.

  • Bald eagles reach speeds of 35 to 43 miles per hour when flying.
  • Due to their maneuverability, they can chase geese in the air, fly underneath, turn, and twist their talons into a goose's breast while still airborne.
  • They are not as fast at flying as golden eagles.

Conservation Status

Bald eagles are no longer considered an endangered species. However, both bald and golden eagles are still protected under several different federal laws as well as a variety of local and state laws.

  • It is illegal to disturb any bald eagle nests, including those that are no longer active.
  • There are certain types of permits available for those who want to take or relocate golden and bald eagles.
  • The Eagle Act provides many protections for eagles and restricts how humans may interact with the birds.

Learn More About Bald Eagles and Other Eagle Species

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