Bald eagle in exhibit
Scientific Name
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Class
Aves
Order
Falconiformes
Range
Canada through Mexico
Habitat
Lakes, rivers, and coastal areas
Estimated Wild Population
n/a
Bald eagle in exhibit Endangered Status Graph - Least Concern Endangered Status Graph - Least Concern

More Information

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.

Did You Know?

Bald eagles use sticks to build nests at the top of trees that can stand up to 100 feet tall.

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.

Their sharp eyesight enables them to spot prey from hundreds of feet in the sky.

Animal Care staff working with seal

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.

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Support Your Zoo

Two Chilean flamingos in exhibit

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.

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Asian small-clawed otter in exhibit

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.

Browse the Wish List

African penguin eating a fish

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.

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