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Bald Eagle

Scientific Name

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Class

Aves

Order

Falconiformes

Range

Canada through Mexico

Habitat

Lakes, rivers, and coastal areas

Estimated Wild Population

n/a

Found in:

Regenstein Birds of Prey

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.

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