A bird of prey with a wingspan up to 7.5 feet, the bald eagle is the national bird of the United States and a conservation success story after near-extinction in the 1960s.

Also called: American Eagle

Native status: Native; resident in much of US, migratory in north

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 71–96 cm (28–38 in); wingspan 1.8–2.3 m (6–7.5 ft)
Weight3–6.3 kg (6.5–14 lb); females larger than males
LifespanUp to 28 years in the wild; 50+ in captivity
OrderAccipitriformes
FamilyAccipitridae

§ Encyclopedia

The bald eagle 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, which occupies the same niche as the bald eagle in the Palearctic. Its 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.

Source: Wikipedia — Bald eagle Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Adults: chocolate-brown body with pure white head and tail; yellow beak and feet. Juveniles: mottled brown for the first 4–5 years before adult plumage develops.

Similar species. Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) — entirely dark with golden nape; lacks white tail in adults. Turkey Vulture has two-toned underwings and red head.

Voice. High-pitched chittering whistles, much smaller than the bird itself. Hollywood typically dubs Red-tailed Hawk screams over Bald Eagle footage.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Primarily fish, including spawned-out salmon and carrion; opportunistic predator of waterfowl and small mammals.

Behavior. Soars on broad wings using thermals. Builds the largest nests of any North American bird — used for decades and added to yearly, some exceeding 1 ton. Defends nesting territory aggressively.

§ Range

Throughout North America, near coastlines, lakes, and large rivers

§ Habitat

Open water bodies with adjacent forests of mature trees for nesting

§ Threats

Lead poisoning from ammunition and fishing tackle, electrocution on power lines, habitat loss along shorelines.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the bald eagle is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Use non-lead ammunition and tackle. Support shoreline habitat protection. Report injured eagles to local wildlife agencies.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Cornell Lab — All About Birds
  • USFWS species profile
  • IUCN Red List 2021
  • BirdLife International factsheet