The bald eagle has a majestic and regal reputation. All bald eagles are protected under several lawful acts, and those in human care are considered property of the federal government.
Bald eagles can use their keen eyesight and incredibly strong talons to spot and swipe fish from lakes and running streams. This takes a lot of effort, however, and bald eagles will not hesitate to let other predators do the hard work for them. They commonly steal prey from smaller raptors such as osprey, a "fishy" behavior that once drove Benjamin Franklin to suggest the wild turkey as the national bird instead of the bald eagle. The bald eagle is not actually bald, but has a white head of feathers! This coloration develops with maturity (around 7 years of age). Once endangered, they are now protected under the Endangered Species Act and have made an extraordinary comeback. They are now considered a common species, but nonetheless remain fiercely protected in the United States.
These magnificent birds are usually seen as the national symbol of the United States. We have 3 Bald Eagles who are permanent residents here at the Zoo, all of which were injured in the wild and are unable to fly. This is also why they do not leave their open air habitat!
Courtney
Bald eagle nests can reach up to 10 ft wide and 20 ft deep!
northern Canada to northern Mexico
Rivers, lakes, marshes
Height: 71–96 cm Wingspan: 168–244 cm | 2.5–6.3 kg
Fish, birds, crustaceans, amphibians, small mammals, reptiles
No natural predators
Large talons and curved beaks
1–3 eggs per clutch
Formerly Endangered, now Least Concern
28–36 years
