The Bald Eagle is arguably the most popular bird in the United States. The American symbol for strength, courage, and freedom, there is no mistaking this predator with any other winged creature of the wild. The bald eagle's scientific name, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, is actually another clever way of describing the eagle's appearance, as it is roughly translated to "the sea eagle with a white head." At one time, "bald" actually meant "white," not hairless. Most people are familiar with their look. Both male and female bald eagles have a white head, neck, and tail; yellow feet and beak; and a blackish-brown back and chest. Another thing about bald eagles--they're huge. Although their bodies are compact and they are only about 3-feet tall, a bald eagle's wingspan can be as wide as 7-feet. That means each one of the eagle's wings is about as tall as the eagle itself! If you're an average 7-year old, try to spread your arms as far away from each other as you can. Then, touch fingertips with one buddy. The span between you is an eagle's wingspan! Impressive, isn't it? However, bald eagles don't always look that striking. Younger bald eagles have a mixture of brown and white feathers, and the even younger ones have black beaks. Only after they mature, about 5 years, will they develop the unique appearance of their parents.

What and How They Eat: Bald eagles aren't very picky eaters. Although their primary source of food is fish, they are known to be opportunistic and will eat anything that is easily gathered. This includes carrion (decaying flesh) of both large and small mammals. Bald eagles are also known to take food from other birds, like gulls and raptors. Because of this, bald eagles also get a bad rap as bullies. Regardless, as birds of prey, they don't always steal food, they also hunt. Eagles kill their prey with their strong feet and sharp talons. They can carry up to 4 pounds of food while flying, and then use their razor-sharp beaks like knives to tear apart their food.

Making Babies: Bald Eagles are generally faithful birds. They usually mate for life, and will only seek a new mate if the other one dies. Though they are capable of mating annually since age 4, some eagle pairs choose not to. This may be based on an instinct, whether it is adverse weather, poor nesting sites, or scarcity of food, there is no definitive answer. Because bald eagles have such long lives, up to 30 years in the wild, they have plenty of time to make babies.

There is so much more to learn about nesting and baby eagles (called eaglets). Firstly, the time bald eagles mate varies depending on region. Nonetheless, their mating and nesting patterns are fairly similar. Bald eagles choose to build a nest about 10 - 150 feet from the ground, and use the same nest year after year. If something happens to the nest, they will usually build another one near or at the exact same site. During the nest-building phase, neither the male or female eagle wander very far. The female lays about 1-3 eggs, a few days after mating, which are then incubated for about 35 days. Both parents take turns incubating, but generally the male eagle spends the most time hunting. In addition to food, the male eagle also regularly brings green sprigs of conifer branches to the nest. Why exactly he does this is still a mystery, but some experts guess that it's to make the nest less stinky, or to provide shade for the eaglets.  

Baby eagles are born with a grey feather down and grey-ish beaks and talons. The eaglets grow super fast, growing up to one pound every four or five days. At about six weeks, they are usually as large as their parents. During this time, the parents spend most of their time finding food for their eaglets, as their appetites grow to extremes at eight weeks of age. Around 10 - 13 weeks, the babies begin to lose their down and juvenile feathers appear. This around the time when the young eagles take their first flight.

Juvenile bald eagles look nothing like the ones we've been accustomed to on our currency. They are more brownish with spots of white. It isn't until they mature at about 4 -5 years old, when they change to the white head and blackish-brown body we're most familiar with.

Bald Eagle Stats:

Interesting Facts:

• Tread Carefully: When bald eagles are at their nest, they ball their talons up like fists in order to prevent accidentally hurting their babies.
  
  
• Not Always the Favorite: The bald eagle became America's national emblem in 1782. However, not everyone was as thrilled about this decision. Because of the eagle's eating habits, Benjamin Franklin thought the eagle wasn't a good choice for America's representative. If he had things his way, America's national emblem would showcase a more "honest" bird--the turkey.
  
  
• What's in a Name?: As you know, bald eagles aren't actually "bald," as in hairless. Actually, the bald eagle got is name from "piebald," which means spotty or patchy, such as the eagle's brown body and white head and tail. Also, the word "bald" is derived from an Old English term, "balde," which means white.
  
  
• Pretend Sounds: Eagles don't really have vocal cords. Their high-pitched shrilling noises are actually caused by the sound air makes as it passes the bones in their neck. If you ever hear an eagle sound during a movie, it's usually the sound of a red-tailed hawk, as its noises are more much more dramatic.
  
  
• A Record Winner: The largest nest ever recorded is credited to a pair of bald eagles from Florida. The lest measured six meters deep, four meters wide, and weighed nearly three tons.
  
  
• Eagle Eye: Bald eagles are known for their amazing sight. Their eyesight is quite unique as they have two foveae, or centers of focus. This allows eagles to see both forward and to the side at the same time. In addition, they can see fish from several hundred feet in the air. This sounds even more impressive when you compare the eagles to other birds, who have difficulty seeing from directly above because they are "counter-shaded."
  
  
• A Pending Success Story: Bald eagles were in danger of being extinct, as there were as low as 500 nesting pairs in the entire lower 48 states. Because of successful conservation efforts, including the banning of the pesticide DDT which effected eagle eggs, the bald eagle population has risen to over 5,000 nesting pairs. There are now a total of 70,000 bald eagles in North America. The birds were officially taken off the Endangered Species list in 2007.

Threats to the Bald Eagle:

• Humans: Eagles are at the top of their food chain, but that means that they are even more susceptible to environmental dangers, especially those caused by humans. Humans must be especially careful not to introduce harmful agents into the environment. Threats to the eagle could include ingesting lead-tainted meat from animals who have consumed it. Power line electrocution and habitat loss are also dangerous to bald eagles.

How You Can Help

• Reduce human environmental impact by being alert to eagles' nesting areas and food sources
• Support local and federal conservation efforts
• Respect roosting areas and do not trespass on private property to view eagles

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