As most can tell, the bald eagle is not bald; the name comes from an older meaning which means “white headed.” The primary plumage color of the bald eagle is a dark brown besides the white on its tail and their yellow beak, feet, and eyes.

The average adult eagle can grow 28-40 inches and weigh 6-14 pounds with the females being 25% larger than males.

If you see a bird soaring in the distance, an easy way to tell if it’s a bald eagle is to see how the bird holds its wings; most large soaring birds will hold their wings in a V shape while the eagle’s 6-8-foot wings lay straight.

Bald eagles also have a second pair of eyelids that are see-through. They clean and hydrate the eyes while allowing the eagle to stay focused on possible prey.

The bald eagle is a bird of prey found in North America near large bodies of water with ample food and trees for nesting; the type of tree doesn’t matter as much as the height, thickness, and location.  

Bald eagles are carnivores that swoop down and capture primarily fish. They will either carry the fish and to a nesting spot and hold it with one claw while tearing it with the other or if it’s a heavy fish, they might grasp it and paddle to shore with their wings to eat it. The talon the hind toe is used to pierce the vital organs of prey while it’s held still by the front toes. Besides fish, bald eagles will dine on crabs, rabbits, carrion, and more.

Mating season for bald eagles starts in February. Bald eagles are monogamous but will seek out a new partner if one of them dies.

They build huge nests as they return to the same one yearly so each nest is 2-4 feet deep and 4-5 feet wide to start. A pair in St. Petersburg, FL holds the record for largest nest ever built at 20 feet deep and 9.5 wide, weighing over 2 tons!

In the wild, mothers can lay up to 3 eggs, but it’s rare all will survive. The male and female bald eagles will share incubation and feeding duties. The eaglets grow faster than any North American chick as they and are ready to leave the nest between 16-28 weeks of age.

The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States and appears on its seal. They were removed from the endangered species list in 1995 and from the threatened species list in 2007!

Bald eagles have been seen stealing fish from other birds such as ospreys, chasing them down until they drop their catch.