General

Bald Eagle: Large, hawk-like bird with dark brown body and white head and tail. Heavy bill, legs, feet, and eyes are yellow. Sexes are similar. Juvenile is dark brown with variable white mottling on wings and tail for the first four years of life.

Range and Habitat

Bald Eagle: Formerly distributed across most of North America; now limited to breeding in Alaska, Canada, northern Great Lakes states, Gulf coast states, and the Pacific northwest. Move south from northern breeding grounds during winters. Preferred habitats include open water areas that support large numbers of waterfowl or fish.

Breeding and Nesting

Bald Eagle: Builds a huge stick nest (sometimes weighing over 1 ton), usually about 6 feet in diameter and more than 6 feet tall, near the top of large tree near a river or lake. Female lays two dull white to light blue eggs. Both parents incubate eggs for 35 days. Young grow quickly and leave the nest between 10 and 12 weeks of age.

Foraging and Feeding

Bald Eagle: Feeds primarily on fish, which they catch themselves, find dead, or steal from other birds such as ospreys; also feeds on carrion or live prey including waterfowl, other birds, turtles, and rabbits. Road-killed deer are a favorite and leads to many eagles being hit by cars.

Vocalization

Bald Eagle: Makes shrill, high- pitched, and twittering calls.

Similar Species

Bald Eagle: Golden Eagle has less massive bill, less blotchy white on underwings and underparts, and has golden feathers on head. Steller's Eagle has a long, wedge-shaped white tail and white thighs and shoulders.