Distribution: Over most of North America, from northern Alaska and
Canada down to northern Mexico
Size and Weight: Male bald eagles generally measure 3 ft from head to tail,
weigh 7 to 10 lbs, and have a wingspan of about 6 1/2 ft; females are
larger, some reaching 14 lbs and having a wingspan of up to 8 ft
Biology: They build huge nests in the tops of large trees near rivers, lakes,
marshes, or other wetland areas; the nests are primarily built of sticks
and can eventually weigh up to two tons; bald eagles normally lay two to
three eggs once a year and the eggs hatch after about 35 days; both the
male and the female will hunt and feed the eaglets; the young eagles are
flying within 3 months and are on their own about a month later
Behavior: Bald eagles are only partially migratory; if they have access to
open water, they will remain at that nesting sight year round
Lifespan: Bald eagles are believed to live 30 years or longer in the wild, and
even longer in captivity
Habitat: Bald eagles live in quiet isolation; tall, mature trees; and clean
waters
Diet: Primarily fish-eaters that prefer salmon, but they will feed on almost
anything they can catch, including waterfowl, rodents, snakes, and
carrion. In winter, northern birds migrate south and gather in large
numbers near open water areas where fish or other prey are plentiful.
Fun Facts: The only eagle unique to North America; the distinctive white
head and tail feathers appear only after the bird is 4 to 5 years old; often
seen stealing prey from other birds; from fewer than 450 nesting pairs in
the early 1960s, there are now nearly 4,500 adult bald eagle nesting pairs
and an unknown number of young and subadults in the U.S
Credit: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service/photo by Don Pfitzer
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