Bald Eagles

Bald eagles aren't actually bald. Instead, they have white feathers on their heads. 

Looks

Bald eagles have white feathers on their head and tail. They have fierce yellow beaks and dark brown body and wings. 

Feeding

With a diet of mainly fish, sometimes birds, and small mammals, bald eagles are sea eagles. They mainly eat carrion and steal scraps of meat from other animals. They catch fish by diving down close to the water and snatching up their prey with their sharp talons.

Habitat

Bald eagles live near water where they can fish, and tall trees in which they can nest. These eagles live in North America, by lakes, rivers, and in coastal areas.

Breeding

A bald eagle’s nest is the biggest in the world, weighing 1.1 tons. At five years of age, bald eagles are old enough to mate. They usually mate for life, if they succeed in breeding. Other things may prevent them from being together. When they mate, they do a spectacular courtship display, gripping each other’s claws and falling towards the ground. They split up before hitting the ground, though, and continue their display with different amazing feats.

Lifespan

In the wild bald eagles can live up to 30 years. But in captivity they can live about 40 or 50 fifty years. 


History


Bald eagles used to be extremely endangered due to the use of pesticides and the destruction of their habitat. Now they not threatened, but are still protected.