Bald eagle

Bald eagle. The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known subspecies and forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle. It is an iconic symbol of the United States, appearing on its Great Seal, and is renowned for its distinctive white head and tail feathers against a dark brown body.

Description and characteristics

The adult bald eagle is unmistakable with its dark brown body and wings, contrasting with a bright white head and tail. Its beak, feet, and irises are a vibrant yellow. This plumage is not attained until the bird is about five years old; juveniles are mostly brown with varying white mottling. Females are about 25% larger than males, a common form of sexual dimorphism in birds of prey. They possess powerful talons and a large, hooked beak adapted for a piscivorous diet. Their wingspan is one of the largest of any North American bird, typically ranging from 1.8 to 2.3 meters. The species is placed within the genus Haliaeetus (sea eagles) and is closely related to the white-tailed eagle of Eurasia.

Distribution and habitat

The bald eagle's range includes most of Canada and Alaska, all of the contiguous United States, and northern Mexico. It is found near large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply and old-growth trees for nesting. Key habitats include the Chesapeake Bay, the Pacific Northwest, the Great Lakes, and the Florida Everglades. Northern birds are often migratory, traveling to ice-free areas, while southern populations tend to be resident year-round. The species has been successfully reintroduced to areas like the Channel Islands off California.

Behavior and ecology

Bald eagles are powerful fliers and skilled hunters, though they often scavenge or steal food from other birds like ospreys. Their diet consists primarily of fish, but they are opportunistic and will take waterfowl, small mammals, and carrion. They build massive nests, called aeries, high in tall trees or on cliffs, often reusing and adding to them annually. Breeding pairs engage in spectacular aerial courtship displays involving cartwheeling and talon-locking. They are generally solitary or found in pairs, but large numbers can congregate at major food sources, such as salmon runs in Alaska or at dams on the Columbia River.

Relationship with humans

The bald eagle has a complex relationship with humans, serving as a sacred spiritual symbol for many Indigenous peoples, including tribes of the Pacific Northwest. It was chosen as the national emblem of the United States in 1782, depicted on the Great Seal. Historically, it was persecuted by farmers and fishermen, and it faced severe population declines in the mid-20th century due to the widespread use of the pesticide DDT, a story famously documented by Rachel Carson in Silent Spring. It is a prominent subject in wildlife photography and a major ecotourism attraction in areas like Klamath Basin.

Conservation status

Once endangered due to hunting, habitat loss, and DDT-induced eggshell thinning, the bald eagle has made a remarkable recovery. Following the banning of DDT in the United States in 1972 and protection under the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, populations rebounded dramatically. It was removed from the U.S. federal list of threatened and endangered species in 2007. It is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Ongoing conservation challenges include lead poisoning from ingested ammunition, habitat destruction, and collisions with man-made structures like wind turbines.

Category:Birds of prey Category:National symbols of the United States Category:Birds of North America