Most bald eagles reach sexual maturity at age four or five and breed in early spring. Once an eagle has secured a meal, it uses the sharp edges of its curved beak to slice through flesh or scales. ( Winter is prime time for watching bald eagles-here's where to spot them.) Like hawks, falcons, and other predatory birds, bald eagles are considered raptors and have a number of adaptations that make them built for the chase: razor-like talons for puncturing and carrying up to eight-pound victims, a large wingspan for conserving energy by soaring, and a dense coating of light-detecting cells on their retinas that helps them spot prey from up to a mile away. To conserve energy, these opportunistic creatures sometimes scavenge on dead animals or steal prey from birds and other animals despite being gifted hunters themselves. Their diets also include birds, turtles, and small mammals such as squirrels and rabbits. While bald eagles occasionally live in arid areas, most reside in woods by rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water rich with fish, their main food source. A 2019 survey found that the population in the lower 48 states quadrupled since 2009. Today bald eagle numbers continue to soar despite threats like illegal hunting and electrocution from power lines. eagles suffer from lead poisoning, study suggests.) banned DDT use and began intensive population management strategies that led to eagle recovery in the wild and their eventual removal from the Endangered Species Act list in 2007. DDT, a pesticide that became popular after World War II, also wreaked havoc on bald eagles that ate contaminated fish, weakening their eggshells so much they’d crack during incubation. in the mid-1900s due to decades of sport hunting and habitat destruction. state except for Hawaii.ĭespite their national fame, bald eagles were almost wiped out in the U.S. Most of these majestic, brown-bodied creatures live in Alaska and Canada, but they also inhabit Mexico and every U.S.

Their name is derived from the old English word “Balde,” which means white-a nod to the snowy-white feathers that cover their heads and tails. Bald eagles don’t actually have bare heads. The bald eagle is a large, powerful bird that has been the national symbol of the United States since 1782, when it was first placed with outspread wings on the country’s Great Seal as a sign of strength. Current Population Trend: Increasing What is a bald eagle?

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