Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

The Bald Eagle was formerly found throughout most of the North American continent, including Canada & into Mexico. They are now found all year round along much of both the Eastern & Western coasts of America, as far north as Alaska & the Aleutian Islands on the Western side & as far south as Florida & Northern Mexico on the Eastern side, some are also resident throughout the year in parts of Western USA. The summertime breeding range covers Alaska & much of Canada, but the majority of these birds migrate South & are spread throughout most of the United States during the winter. The Northern Bald Eagles are generally larger than their Southern counterparts.

Although famed for the white head (the "leucocephalus" part of the scientific name means "white headed"), when juvenile, the bald eagle is brown or brown & white mottled all over. It is only from around three-four years of age that the white head feathers start to appear & are fully grown by around seven years of age. It is thought (by some people) that the name "bald", was misheard from the American Indian name "white headed", where the two words are phonetically similar. Another theory is that the name is derived from the term "piebald", meaning white & brown.

Their preferred habitat, particularly during the breeding season, is large open water areas, such as coasts, estuaries, rivers, lakes & sometimes even large ponds. They particularly favour these areas that also have high trees suitable for nesting & as perches for foraging. In winter they are also found in waterless open countryside, including the desert regions of western USA.

The Bald Eagle is a diverse feeder, being part predator, part scavenger & part carrion-eater. Their preferred prey is fish, which is taken both alive & dead, but they will also take birds (mainly waterfowl & seabirds), mammals, reptiles & invertebrates. They will also feed on carrion & Bald Eagles are regularly seen scavenging for food items in human waste areas. Hunting is generally from a high perch, either a tall tree or clifftop, where they will scan the water for fish near the surface, the prey is generally taken from the surface from a long, gradually descending gliding flight. During the salmon spawning season when these fish are migrating, they will often catch their prey by wading into rivers. Birds, up to the size of geese, are often attacked in flight. As well as catching their own food they will often harry other Bald Eagles or other birds of prey, including Osprey, & steal the prey items that they have caught.

Bald Eagles are generally solitary hunters, but during the breeding season they will regular hunt as a pair. During winter & on migration, they will often gather in groups of several hundred at abundant food sources & they have been seen roosting in colonies over over 1000 birds at these times.

Breeding takes place between Apirl & August in Canada & Alaska, in Southern USA the breeding season is between November & March. Nests are generally built in the main fork high of a tall tree (usually conifers), but occasionally on a cliffside & very rarely on the ground. The nest is made from sticks, lined with seaweed, grass or other vegetation. The nests are reused each year & added to & can reach sizes of up to 2.5m across & 4m deep. The nests are often in small loose colonies. Generally 2 or 3 eggs are laid, which are incubated for around 35 days, the young are fully fledged at between 75-92 days from hatching & are reach full independence around 1 month later.

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Mythology & Folklore :

The Bald Eagle was chosen as the emblem of the American colonies, on June 20th, 1782 & adopted as the emblem of the United States in 1787. It was chosen as it symbolized courage & might. It was also indigenous only to the US & Canada. Benjamin Franklin, amongst others, opposed the choice of the bald eagle, believing it to be of "bad moral character", as it lived by "sharping & robbing" & was also a "rank coward". Congress overturned Benjamin Franklin's choice of national emblem, the turkey - "a true original native of America ...a bird of courage, who would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British guards, who should presume to invade his farmyard with a red coat on". On the national emblem, the eagle is depicted carrying olive branches in the right talons & 13 arrows in the left, symbolizing the power of peace & war invested in Congress. On its chest is a shield bearing the stripes of the original states, with no obvious means of support, symbolizing the ability of the US to support itself. In its beak it holds the banner with the words "e pluribus unum" .

In Athabaskan (indigenous North Americans mainly from the far North West, now Alaska, but also some Southern regions) myths Bald Eagles were considered to deliver people from famine. It was thought that if a prince gave an eagle a salmon during time of plenty, then during lean years the grateful eagle would repay them not only with salmon but also catching sea lions & even whales for them as thanks.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List : Least Concern (LC)

AOU Data :

Species Number : 352.0
Alpha Code : BAEA
Common Name : Bald Eagle
Longevity Record : 31yrs 4months

Also Called :