Bald Eagle Facts

Bald Eagle Facts For centuries, the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was a spiritual symbol for the native people who lived in the United States. In 1782, it was nominated as the national emblem of the U.S., but it nearly became extinct during the 1970s due to illegal hunting and the effects of DDT poisoning. Recovery efforts and stronger federal protection helped ensure that this large raptor is no longer endangered and continues to make a strong comeback. Fast Facts: The Bald Eagle Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalusCommon Names: Bald Eagle, Eagle, American Bald EagleBasic Animal Group: BirdSize: 35–42 inches longWingspan:  5.9–7.5 feetWeight: 6.6–14  poundsLifespan: 20 years (in the wild)Diet: CarnivoreHabitat: large, open lakes and rivers in the United States and Canada, particularly in  Florida, Alaska and  the MidwestPopulation: 700,000Conservation Status:  Least Concern Description The bald eagles head may appear bald, but its actually covered in white feathers. Indeed, its name is actually derived  from an older name and meaning of white-headed. The bald heads of mature bald eagles contrast sharply with their chocolate brown bodies. They have a very large, yellow, thick bill with an upper  mandible  that is strongly hooked. The bird is generally 35 to 42 inches long with a wingspan that can grow to 7 feet or more. The head, neck, and tail of bald eagles are bright, plain white, but younger birds may show spotting. Their eyes, bill, legs, and feet are yellow, and their black  talons  are thick and powerful. Buck Shreck/Getty Images Habitat and Range The bald eagles range spans from Mexico to most of Canada and it includes all of the continental U.S. They can be found in all kinds of habitats, from the bayous of Louisiana to the deserts of California to the deciduous forests of New England. It is the only sea eagle that is endemic (native) to North America. Diet and Behavior Bald eagles eat fish- and anything and everything else- but fish make up the majority of their diet. The birds have also been known to eat other water birds such as grebes, herons, ducks, coots, geese, and egrets, as well as mammals such as rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, muskrats, and even deer fawns. Turtles, terrapins, snakes, and crabs as make for tasty bald eagle snacks as well. Bald eagles have also been known to steal prey from other predators (a practice known as kleptoparasitism), to scavenge carcasses of other animals, and to steal food from landfills or campsites.  In other words, if a bald eagle can grab it in its talons, it will eat it. Reproduction and Offspring Bald eagles mate from late September to early April, depending on the region. The female lays her first egg five to 10 days after mating and incubates the eggs for about 35 days. They produce one to three eggs, which is called the clutch size. When first hatched, bald eagle chicks are covered with fluffy white down but quickly grow larger and develop mature feathers. Juvenile birds have mottled brown and white  plumage  and do not get the distinctive white head and tail until they are 4 to 5 years old when they are sexually mature and able to mate. Marcia Straub/Getty Images Threats Bald eagles today are threatened by poaching and accidental or deliberate shootings, as well as other risks to  raptors  including pollution, collisions with wind turbines or power lines, contamination of their food supplies and habitat loss.  Lead poisoning  from fishing lures and discarded bullet casings is also a grave threat to bald eagles and other large raptors. Conservation Status The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the bald eagles conservation status as least concern and says its population is increasing. However, bald eagles were severely affected by pesticides, especially DDT, which was widely used after World War II. The once-touted pesticide poisoned bald eagles and caused their eggshells to become thin, resulting in many failed nesting attempts, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. As a result of their dwindling numbers, the bald eagle was placed on the federal list of endangered species in 1967 and the California endangered species list in 1971. However, after the use of DDT was banned in the United States in 1972, strong efforts to restore these birds were successful and the bald eagle was removed from the endangered species list in 2007. Sources â€Å"Bald Eagle Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.†Ã‚  Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.â€Å"Bald Eagle.†Ã‚  National Geographic, 21 Sept. 2018.â€Å"Bald Eagles in California. California Department of Fish and Wildlife.â€Å"Basic Facts About Bald Eagles.†Ã‚  Defenders of Wildlife, 10 Jan. 2019.â€Å"The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.†Ã‚  IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.