Over 30 Bald Eagles in the back yard. Bald Eagle. Genus: Haliaeetus Species: leucocephalus Description: Bald eagles are one of the most recognizable birds in the United States. If you don’t remember what a bald eagles looks like, simply pull out a quarter or a dollar. An eagle is shown on the back of the quarter and holding an olive branch and arrows on the one dollar bill. Bald eagles are large, predatory raptors. They are dark brown on the body and wings. Juvenile bald eagles look very different from the adults. Size: Bald eagles grow to about 2½-3 feet in height. Diet: Bald eagles love fish! Typical Lifespan: Bald eagles can live to about 20-30 years of age in the wild. Bald Eagle Habitat: Bald eagles like lakes—big lakes. Range: Bald eagles are North American birds. See an eagle? Communication: Bald eagles call to each other with a high-pitched whistle or chirp.
Bald Eagle Life History and Reproduction: Bald eagles are solitary, but monogamous animals. The nests are built on the tops of trees. Did You Know? Bald Eagles, Bald Eagle Pictures, Bald Eagle Facts. The bald eagle, with its snowy-feathered (not bald) head and white tail, is the proud national bird symbol of the United States—yet the bird was nearly wiped out there. For many decades, bald eagles were hunted for sport and for the "protection" of fishing grounds. Pesticides like DDT also wreaked havoc on eagles and other birds. These chemicals collect in fish, which make up most of the eagle's diet. They weaken the bird's eggshells and severely limited their ability to reproduce. Since DDT use was heavily restricted in 1972, eagle numbers have rebounded significantly and have been aided by reintroduction programs.
The result is a wildlife success story—the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has upgraded the birds from endangered to threatened. Though their numbers have grown in much of their range, bald eagles remain most abundant in Alaska and Canada. Bald eagles are believed to mate for life. Bald Eagle Facts Sheet. Official Site of the Philadelphia Eagles. American Bald Eagle Information.