Migratory behavior in Bald Eagle varies across North America populations, varying with age, breeding location and climate, and winter prey availability; many migratory movements align with salmon migrations in Pacific Northwest and Alaksa. Individuals migrate alone during the day but will sometimes join others, not forming flocks or kettles. Southern adults breeding south of 40°N are often permanent residents and do not migrate; juveniles or immatures will disperse or migrate. Migration routes include coastal areas (Pacific and Atlantic), major rivers (Mississippi River), or major mountains (Appalachian Mountains).
During fall migration, northern interior individuals breeding north of 40°N migrate south from August to January; juveniles tend to migrate earlier and farther than adults. During spring migration, northern populations return to breeding grounds upon food availability from January to March.
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
At a Glance
The national emblem of the United States since 1782, the Bald Eagle is a cultural and spiritual symbol, a symbol of freedom, democracy, environmental ethics, and wilderness. Native American cultures consider the Bald Eagle a sacred symbol of strength, spirituality, and connection to the Creator; the National Eagle Repository recognizes the significance to federally recognized tribes and provides Bald Eagle feathers and parts for religious purposes. Bald Eagle populations have significantly recovered since the 1970s, with populations breeding throughout is historic range in the United States and Canada.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Hawk-like Birds, Hawks and Eagles
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Coasts and Shorelines, Forests and Woodlands, Freshwater Wetlands, Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers, Landfills and Dumps, Saltwater Wetlands
Region
Alaska and The North, California, Eastern Canada, Florida, Great Lakes, Mid Atlantic, New England, Northwest, Plains, Rocky Mountains, Southeast, Southwest, Texas, Western Canada
Behavior
Direct Flight, Soaring, Swooping
Population
200.000
Range & Identification
Migration & Range Maps
Description
Both sexes; females are 25% larger — Length: 2 ft 3 in-3 ft (71-96 cm); wingspan: 6 ft 8 in (2.04 m); weight: 6 lb 9.8 oz-13 lb 14 oz (3-6.3 kg). The adult Bald Eagle plumage is unmistakable by 5.5 years, with the white head and tail contrasting the brown body. Young juveniles have a dark brown head, body, wings, and tail, with some whiteish mottling in wings and tail; older juveniles may have a whiter body.
Size
About the size of a Heron
Color
Black, Brown, White, Yellow
Wing Shape
Broad, Fingered, Long, Rounded
Tail Shape
Rounded, Square-tipped, Wedge-shaped
Songs and Calls
Squeaky cackling and thin squeals; weak, gull-like calls.
Call Pattern
Falling, Flat, Simple
Call Type
Chirp/Chip, Scream, Whistle
Habitat
Often next to water along coasts, rivers, or large lakes; in forested areas with access to openings and/or edges for foraging. The Bald Eagle inhabits anywhere prey is abundant including swamps in Florida, conifer forest edges in southeastern Alaska, treeless islands in Aleutians, and desert rivers in Arizona. In winter, can be found in very dry, open western valleys with access to open water.
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Behavior
Eggs
2, sometimes 1-3. White rounded oval to oval. Incubation is by both parents, 34-36 days.
Young
At least one parent remains with the young almost constantly for the first 2-3 weeks, with the female present more often while the male hunts. Both parents hunt and bring prey to nest, tearing food into small pieces and feeding the young directly at first; after 3-4 weeks, the female hunts as much as the male as the young begin pecking at food dropped in nest. The largest young individual receives the most food, and only the largest may survive in seasons when prey is scarce.
Hatchlings have immature light-gray feathers with pink skin, gape, and legs, and brown eyes. At 2-3 weeks, flight feathers emerge with head and back feathers emerging around 4 to 5 weeks. The male Bald Eagle develops flight feathers and grows quicker than the female. Nest departure is from 8-14 weeks of age, with nearly half unsuccessful and young individuals remaining on the ground until they regain ability to fly; parents often continue to feed. Fledglings leave around 17 to 23 weeks and explore for 4-5 years as they grow from juveniles to adults.
Hatchlings have immature light-gray feathers with pink skin, gape, and legs, and brown eyes. At 2-3 weeks, flight feathers emerge with head and back feathers emerging around 4 to 5 weeks. The male Bald Eagle develops flight feathers and grows quicker than the female. Nest departure is from 8-14 weeks of age, with nearly half unsuccessful and young individuals remaining on the ground until they regain ability to fly; parents often continue to feed. Fledglings leave around 17 to 23 weeks and explore for 4-5 years as they grow from juveniles to adults.
Feeding Behavior
The Bald Eagle is an opportunistic forager; a powerful predator but sometimes a scavenger, taking prey alive, fresh, or as carrion, and stealing food from other eagles or avian raptors such as the Osprey. Hunts from a high perch, swooping down to catch prey using talons. Also hunts by cruising very low over sea or land, taking prey by surprise. Where fish are abundant (spawning runs), the Bald Eagle may wade in shallow water to pursue them. Lands on the ground to feed on carrion.
Diet
Mostly fish when available, including salmon, herring, catfish, carp, and many others. When fish are scarce, also feeds on birds (ducks, coots, auklets), mammals (rabbits, muskrats), amphibians, reptiles (turtles), and invertebrates (shellfish, crabs). Often feeds on carrion when readily available.
Nesting
During a spectacular courtship display, the male and female Bald Eagle fly high into the sky, lock talons, and cartwheel down toward earth, unlocking talons just before crashing to the ground. The male and female also chase one another, sometimes locking talons, rolling, and diving or an individual will fly high into the sky, fold wings, and dive directly down toward earth, swooping up just before crashing to the ground. Unless a mate dies, pairs mate for life and are considered monogamous, first breeding around 4-5 years of age.
The Bald Eagle nest is one of the largest bird nests, reaching up to 2 metric tons; tree nests are most often 1.5-2 m in diameter and 0.7-1.2 m tall. Tree nests are often built in the tallest tree, up to 180 ft or more above ground, with a large canopy. The male and female Bald Eagle build the nest out of sticks lined with finer materials, beginning 1 to 3 months before egg-laying and sometimes completing the nest in 4 days. However, nest completion may take 3 months and may be reused and added to for years. The Great Horned Owl sometimes take over nests. Nest site is usually in a tree, but ground nests are built in treeless areas (e.g., Alaska, Arizona, California, coastal islands, northern Canada) often on cliffs, sea stacks, or ridges to provide flight access with limited ground access for predators.
The Bald Eagle nest is one of the largest bird nests, reaching up to 2 metric tons; tree nests are most often 1.5-2 m in diameter and 0.7-1.2 m tall. Tree nests are often built in the tallest tree, up to 180 ft or more above ground, with a large canopy. The male and female Bald Eagle build the nest out of sticks lined with finer materials, beginning 1 to 3 months before egg-laying and sometimes completing the nest in 4 days. However, nest completion may take 3 months and may be reused and added to for years. The Great Horned Owl sometimes take over nests. Nest site is usually in a tree, but ground nests are built in treeless areas (e.g., Alaska, Arizona, California, coastal islands, northern Canada) often on cliffs, sea stacks, or ridges to provide flight access with limited ground access for predators.
Conservation
Conservation Status
The Bald Eagle is protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, prohibiting taking or possessing any Bald Eagle parts including feathers, feet, nests, and eggs within contiguous United States and Alaska, except for the National Eagle Repository and federally recognized tribes. Hunting, widespread use of pesticides (DDT), and habitat loss caused severe population declines in the early/mid-1900s. Following the Endangered Species Act of 1973, all Bald Eagle populations were listed as Endangered in the contiguous United States, excluding Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin populations listed as Threatened. Populations recovered significantly following endangered species protection and DDT bans. In 2007, the Bald Eagle was removed from the Endangered Species Protection after 10 years of successful recovery and increased populations.
Climate Threats Facing the Bald Eagle
Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases. The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too.
