Bald Eagle
Scientific Name
Class
Order
Range
Habitat
Estimated Wild Population
More Information
Physical Description
Bald eagles can stand three feet tall and have a wingspan measuring up to eight feet across. Their name references the white feathers covering the heads of mature birds. Immature bald eagles lack the familiar white head; their feathers are uniformly brown. Bald eagles prefer fish, but will also prey on birds and small mammals, and are known to steal prey from other predatory animals.
Interesting Fact 1
Bald eagles use sticks to build nests at the top of trees that can stand up to 100 feet tall.
Interesting Fact 2
They return to the same nest each year; as new sticks are added, nests can approach eight feet in height and weigh more than a ton.
Interesting Fact 3
Their sharp eyesight enables them to spot prey from hundreds of feet in the sky.
Commitment to Care
Lincoln Park Zoo prioritizes individual well-being over everything else. Guided by scientific research, staff and volunteers work to provide the best welfare outcomes for each individual in the zoo’s care.
Support Your Zoo
Animals Depend On People Too
When you ADOPT an animal, you support world-class animal care by helping to provide specially formulated diets, new habitat elements, and regular veterinary checkups.
Wish List
The Wish List is full of one-of-a-kind items for the zoo’s animals, including nutritious snacks and enrichment items to keep them active and healthy.
Take Action With Us
Wildlife face many daunting challenges—some global, like planet-wide climate change, and some that affect individuals, like an animal ingesting plastic—but now is not the time to despair. None of these problems are too big for us to come together and solve.
