Birds · Accipitriformes · Accipitridae

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The emblematic bird of prey of North America, with a wingspan of up to 2.3 metres and eyesight up to four times sharper than a human's.

Weight

3 kg – 6.3 kg

Size

70 cm – 1 m

Lifespan

20 years

Diet

Piscivore

Feeds mainly on fish.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Estimated population

316,700 birds of all ages in the 48 contiguous US states according to the 2018-2019 surveys, against 72,434 in 2009; to this must be added the Alaskan and Canadian populations

Temperate forestPiscivore Diurnal In pairs Bird Temperate forest

3countries 36parks43same family1featured routes

Fun facts

It has been the national symbol of the United States since 1782.
It builds the largest nests of any North American bird.
It can live for over 20 years in the wild.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Coasts, rivers and large lakes of North America, close to mature forest
Birth weight: Born blind and helpless
Size at birth: Born blind and helpless
Sexual maturity: 4-5 years (when the full adult plumage comes in)
Gestation / incubation: 34-36 days
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 3 eggs per clutch (most commonly 2)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 48 years

Sources consulted: A-Z Animals; Alaska Department of Fish and Game; National Eagle Center; Baldeagleinfo.com; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Les Oiseaux; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, informe de 2021: la población se ha más que cuadruplicado desde 2009, cuando se estimaban 72.434 ejemplares || U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bald Eagle Population Update 2021 (con datos de eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology)