Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

This iconic raptor soars over North American waterways, its distinctive white head and tail gleaming against the sky.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Bald Eagle is an imposing raptor, easily recognized by its dark brown body and wings contrasting with a bright white head and tail. Its large, hooked yellow beak and powerful yellow talons are distinctive features, complemented by piercing pale eyes.

Females are larger than males and may be as much as a third larger than males; other than that, both sexes share identical plumage.

Adult plumage is achieved at about five years of age. Juveniles are mostly dark brown with mottled white undersides and lack the iconic white head and tail, gradually developing adult coloration over time.

Size

Length

70cm to 102cm

Wingspan

180cm to 244cm

Weight

3kg to 6.3kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown White

Beak Colour

Yellow

Leg Colour

Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Bald Eagle can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Bald Eagle is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Bald Eagle can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Bald Eagle can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Bald Eagle is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Bald Eagle is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Bald Eagle is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Bald Eagle is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Bald Eagle is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Bald Eagle is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Bald Eagle is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Bald Eagle is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Bald Eagles inhabit various aquatic ecosystems, including coastal areas, lakes, and rivers across North America. They are found from Alaska and Canada to Florida and parts of the Gulf of Mexico.

In the United States, they are most abundant in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. During winter, many northern birds migrate south to areas with open water, concentrating in large numbers where fish or waterfowl are plentiful.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Bald Eagle. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons