Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Range: North America, from the Mexico border throughout the United States and Canada
Habitat: Bald eagles prefer living near bodies of water - wetlands, marshes, near lakes or rivers, on the coasts
Size: 3 feet tall; 6-15 pounds; 8 feet wingspan
Diet in the Wild: Fish, birds, small mammals, scavenge on carrion.
Diet in the Zoo: Mice, rats, fish
Lifespan: 20-25 years in the wild; 30+ years in human care
The bald eagle has been the national emblem of the United States since 1782 and a spiritual symbol for native people for far longer than that. These regal birds aren't really bald. "Balde" was an Old English word meaning white. Look for bald eagles soaring in solitude, chasing other birds for their food, or gathering by the hundreds in the winter. Once endangered by hunting and pesticides, bald eagles have flourished under protection.
Fun Facts!
- Benjamin Franklin thought the bald eagle was poor choice for a national symbol, he recommended the wild turkey!
Photo courtesy of Daniel Puckett