Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a large fish-eating raptor native to North America and a flagship species for wildlife conservation. It occurs from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States into northern Mexico, closely tied to large lakes, rivers, and coastal shorelines.
Notable for its white head and tail, the species is also a member of the Sea eagle group, which includes several shoreline-adapted eagles worldwide. Its dramatic recovery from mid-20th-century declines made it a well-known conservation success story.
The Bald Eagle belongs to the family Accipitridae, the broad raptor family that includes hawks, kites, and eagles. It is closely related to other Haliaeetus eagles, including the White-tailed Eagle of Eurasia, and it is distinct from booted eagles such as the Golden Eagle.
Adult Bald Eagles typically measure about 70–102 cm (28–40 in) in body length, with a wingspan of roughly 1.8–2.3 m (5 ft 11 in–7 ft 7 in). Mass commonly ranges from about 3.0–6.3 kg (6.6–13.9 lb), with females averaging larger than males and the biggest birds occurring in Alaska and coastal northern regions.
Adults are recognizable by a white head and tail contrasting with a dark brown body and wings, plus a large yellow bill and yellow feet. Juveniles are mottled brown with variable white flecking and usually take around 4–5 years to acquire full adult plumage.
Bald Eagles favor habitats that combine open water for foraging and large trees or cliffs for nesting and roosting. They are most common along ocean coasts, major river systems, and big lakes, especially where fish are abundant and shorelines are relatively undisturbed.
Many northern populations migrate south or to ice-free waters in winter, while eagles in milder coastal areas may remain year-round. Seasonal concentrations can form at salmon runs or below dams, where feeding opportunities are predictable.
Fish often make up the bulk of the Bald Eagle’s diet, supplemented by waterfowl, small mammals, turtles, and carrion. It hunts by scanning from perches or soaring, then swooping low to snatch prey with its talons, and it frequently scavenges—an efficient strategy in winter and along shorelines.
Bald Eagles are also known for kleptoparasitism, sometimes harassing other raptors to drop their catch, especially the Osprey. In level flight and short pursuits they can reach about 48–56 km/h (30–35 mph), and in steep dives they may exceed 120 km/h (75 mph), though most hunting is done with controlled, low-altitude approaches.
Breeding pairs are typically monogamous for as long as both partners survive and often reuse the same territory. They build massive stick nests in tall trees or on cliffs; some long-used nests can exceed 2 m (6.5 ft) across and weigh hundreds of kilograms, growing larger with annual additions.
Clutches are usually 1–3 eggs, and incubation lasts about 34–36 days. Chicks typically fledge at roughly 10–12 weeks, with parents often continuing to provide food and protection for weeks after fledging as the young birds refine their flight and hunting skills.
The Bald Eagle is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN (most recently assessed in 2021), reflecting its broad distribution and strong recovery. A commonly cited modern estimate is roughly 300,000–350,000 individuals in the United States (around 2019), including tens of thousands of nesting pairs, though totals vary by survey method and year.
The species suffered dramatic declines in the mid-1900s due to habitat loss, persecution, and contaminants—especially DDT, which caused eggshell thinning and widespread nesting failure. Additional ongoing threats include lead poisoning (often from scavenging shot game or fishing tackle), collisions and electrocutions, disturbance near nests, and localized impacts from coastal development and reduced fish availability.
Legal protections and targeted management were critical to recovery, including the ban on DDT in the United States and enforcement under laws such as the Endangered Species Act. Conservation actions today emphasize protecting nest sites and winter roosts, maintaining shoreline habitat, reducing lead exposure, and managing human activity during the breeding season.