How to identify a Bald Eagle
Start with size and shape. Bald Eagles are among the largest birds of prey in North America. They have a heavy body, a large head, a long hooked bill, and long broad wings.
In flight, the wings are often held fairly flat. The bird can look almost board-like from a distance, especially when it is gliding or soaring.
An adult is much easier. The body and wings are dark brown, while the head and tail are white. The bill and feet are yellow.
That adult pattern does not appear right away. A young Bald Eagle can be mostly brown, with changing patches of white on the body and wings. It takes about five years to reach the familiar adult plumage.
How big is a Bald Eagle?
Big. Really big.
Cornell lists a wingspan of about 80 inches, or just over 2 metres. Females are larger than males, but the sexes look alike in plumage.
Size is easiest to judge when the eagle is near a crow, gull, goose, or another raptor. A distant eagle can look surprisingly ordinary until another bird gives you scale.
What does a Bald Eagle sound like?
The voice surprises people. A bird this large does not give a deep movie-style scream.
Bald Eagles usually make high, thin whistles or piping notes. The call can sound light and almost delicate compared with the bird's size.
If you hear a dramatic harsh scream in a movie scene showing a Bald Eagle, the sound may actually be from another raptor.
What do Bald Eagles eat?
Fish are a major part of the diet, which is why Bald Eagles are so often found near coasts, rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and marshes.
They are not fish specialists, though. They also eat waterfowl, gulls, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and carrion. Food changes with location and season.
Bald Eagles can hunt for themselves, scavenge, or steal food. They sometimes chase Ospreys until the smaller bird drops a fish, then grab it in the air.
Where do Bald Eagles live?
Bald Eagles occur across much of North America. Water is the strongest clue. Look around large rivers, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, estuaries, and coastlines.
Some areas have eagles all year. In other places, numbers increase in winter as birds move toward open water and dependable food.
On the Pacific coast, including British Columbia, Bald Eagles can be a familiar sight around shorelines and rivers where fish and other food are available.
How do Bald Eagles nest?
Bald Eagles usually build large stick nests high in sturdy trees, often with a clear flight path and a broad view of the surrounding area.
The nests can become enormous because pairs may return and add more material year after year. Cornell says a typical nest may be about 5 to 6 feet across and 2 to 4 feet tall.
A clutch usually contains one to three eggs. Incubation takes about 34 to 36 days, and the young remain in the nest for many more weeks before fledging.
That long schedule is very different from the two-week pace of many small songbirds. Our guides to bird egg incubation and how long baby birds stay in the nest compare the difference.
Do Bald Eagles reuse nests?
Often, yes.
A strong nest in a good location is a major investment. Returning to it and adding new sticks can make more sense than starting from zero each year.
This is one reason eagle nests can become so large over time. See Do Birds Reuse Nests? for a broader look at which birds come back to old nest sites.
What do young Bald Eagles look like?
Young eagles do not have a clean white head and tail. They are mostly brown and may show a lot of white mottling through the wings, body, head, and tail as they age.
That can cause confusion with Golden Eagles and other large raptors. Do not use one white patch as the whole identification.
Check the bird's size, heavy bill, broad wings, overall pattern, flight style, and habitat. A large mottled eagle near water deserves a closer look.
Bald Eagle vs Golden Eagle
Adult Bald Eagles are easy because the white head and tail are so bold. Immature birds are harder.
Golden Eagles tend to look more evenly dark brown, often with a golden wash on the back of the head and neck. Young Golden Eagles can show white at the wing bases and tail, while young Bald Eagles are often more irregularly mottled.
Wing shape helps too. Bald Eagles have very broad wings and a large projecting head. Location and behaviour can narrow the choice, but a distant immature eagle may take patience.
How long do Bald Eagles live?
They can live for decades.
Cornell reports that the oldest recorded wild Bald Eagle was at least 38 years old. That is a maximum record, not a normal life expectancy, but it shows how long a successful adult can survive.
Are Bald Eagles still endangered?
In the United States, the Bald Eagle was removed from the federal endangered and threatened species list in 2007 after a major recovery.
That does not mean the birds or their nests are unprotected. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service guidance notes that Bald Eagles remain protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Frequently asked questions
Are Bald Eagles really bald?
No. The head is covered in white feathers. The word bald comes from an older use meaning white or white-headed.
Do Bald Eagles mate for life?
Established pairs can stay together for years and return to the same territory. If one bird disappears, the surviving bird can form a new pair. See Do Birds Mate for Life?.
Why do Bald Eagles gather together?
Food can bring many eagles into the same area, especially in winter. Open water, fish runs, carrion, or other dependable food can create large local gatherings.
Can a Bald Eagle swim?
Yes, if it ends up in the water. An eagle can use its wings in a rowing motion to reach shore, although swimming is not its normal way of moving. Our Can Birds Swim? page covers the broader question.
More familiar birds
Continue with Northern Flicker, American Crow, or browse all Common Birds. For shape clues, see How to Identify Birds by Size and Shape.