bald eagle

1. English Name: Bald Eagle
Scientific (Latin) Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus

2. Bald eagles are not actually bald. The name derives from an older English meaning of the word, “white-headed.” The adult bald eagle is easily recognized by its dark brown body and distinctive, contrasting white head and tail. The bald eagle’s eyes are a sharp, bright yellow, and their strong beak and formidable talons are yellow as well. Juvenile bald eagles are mottled brown and white and obtain full adult plumage in about five years. The beak shape is large and hooked, fitting for their primary diet of fish. In terms of sexual dimorphism, female bald eagles are generally larger than males but the two genders look alike.

3. A mature bald eagle stands at an average of 30-37 inches (76-94 cm) with a wingspan ranging between 72-90 inches (183-229 cm). The female bald eagle is larger, with the weight ranging from 7.0 to 14 lbs, while the male bald eagle weighs between 5.0 to 10 lbs.

4. The habitat and distribution of bald eagles are widespread across North America, encompassing the U.S., Canada, and northern Mexico. They can adapt to a variety of habitats, but they prefer areas near bodies of water (e.g. wetlands, lakes, and rivers), forests, and some coastal areas. They require tall, strong trees for nesting.

5. Some interesting facts about the bald eagle include:

– The bald eagle is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America.
– Bald eagles are known for their spectacular mating ritual, where two eagles fly up high, lock their talons together, and tumble down towards the ground, separating just before reaching it.
– These birds are excellent swimmers thanks to their large, powerful wings.

6. Primarily, bald eagles are piscivores, with fish making up the majority of their diet. They’re also opportunistic predators and may consume small mammals, reptiles, and birds, and are known to scavenge carrion.

7. Bald eagles have a unique nesting style, building some of the largest nests among bird species – sometimes measuring over 2 meters wide! During flight, their wings are held flat and not in a ‘V’ shape like some other birds of prey. Their call is a series of short, weak-sounding whistles, not what you might expect from such a formidable bird.

8. The bald eagle was once on the brink of extinction in the contiguous United States. However, thanks to various conservation efforts, their numbers have bounced back. As of now, they are not endangered but have a conservation status of ‘Least Concern’ according to the IUCN Red List.

9. The average lifespan of a bald eagle in the wild is around 20 years, but some have been known to live up to 30. With proper care, in captivity, they can live even longer, sometimes over 40 years.

10. Additional Notes:

– In local languages, the bald eagle is known as Pygargue à Tête Blanche (French), Águila Calva (Spanish), and Weißkopfseeadler (German).
– Bald eagles have a unique position in the ecosystem as both a predator and a scavenger, helping to control rodent populations and clean up the environment. These magnificent birds are also highly important culturally, especially to Native American tribes, who revere them as spiritual messengers between gods and humans.