The bald eagle is a large bird of prey found near coasts, rivers, and large lakes across North America. Adults are unmistakable with their white head and tail, dark brown body, and bright yellow beak and feet.
Despite the name, bald eagles are not bald. The word comes from an older meaning of “white-headed.” Young birds are mottled brown and do not develop the full adult plumage until they are about four or five years old.
Diet and hunting
Bald eagles primarily eat fish. They snatch them from the surface of the water with their talons or steal prey from other birds. They also eat waterfowl, small mammals, and carrion. Their eyesight is excellent, allowing them to spot fish from high above.
They build large stick nests, often in tall trees near water. The same nest may be used and enlarged for many years and can weigh hundreds of kilograms.
Conservation recovery
Bald eagle numbers crashed in the mid-20th century due to hunting, habitat loss, and the pesticide DDT, which thinned eggshells. After DDT was banned and strong protection was put in place, populations recovered dramatically. The species was removed from the U.S. endangered species list in 2007 and is now listed as Least Concern.
Today bald eagles are a common sight in many parts of their former range, a clear example of successful wildlife recovery.
