Northern bald eagle

Ritz:  Received on November 23, 1993 from a wildlife rehabilitator in Minnesota.  Ritz could not be released back into the wild due to chronic problems with the growth of his feathers that leave him flightless for periods of time.

Glory:  Received on June 8, 2004 from the National Aviary in Pittsburgh.  Glory could not be released back into the wild due to a left wing injury.

Where to find me in the Zoo

Bald Eagle Exhibit

Fun Facts

• Bald eagles construct the largest nest of all North American birds. Eagles are known to reuse nests for many years, both by same individuals as well as different individuals.
• Bald eagles are able to tuck their wings and dive from above at incredible speeds. Some eagles can approach around 200 miles per hour in an attack on prey.
• Eagles travel by soaring and gliding on thermals and can cover great distances without flapping their wings.
• Bald eagles are fish eagles. They have spiny pads on the undersides of their talons to help keep wet, wriggling prey in place.

Ask an Expert

Female bald eagles are larger than males. The bald eagle's body feathers are brown-black in color, and their head and tail is a brilliant white. They are fish eagles with powerful talons for seizing fish as they skim the surface of the water.

Northern bald eagles inhabit coastal areas, mountain ranges, rivers and lakes. They prefer areas near water.

Longevity

Although it is not known for certain, northern bald eagles are estimated to live up to about 30 years in the wild. The oldest documented bald eagle in captivity was 47 years old.

Reproduction

Eagles mate for life and make excellent parents. They reach sexual maturity at 4-5 years. Their nests can be 5 feet wide and over 2 feet tall. These nests are made from sticks and are typically reused by adding more sticks to it each year. Females lay one to three eggs in these nests, and the chicks hatch after approximately 35 days of incubation. Both females and males care for the chicks and take turns in hunting and bringing back food back to their young. The young fledge from the nest at about 12 weeks of age.

Behavior

Eagles travel by soaring and gliding on thermals. They can cover great distances without flapping their wings. They have elaborate airborne courtship "dances," during which they perform a breathtaking display of diving, soaring, rolling and gyrating. Bald eagles are aggressive hunters but will often scavenge dead prey or even steal it from another bird when the opportunity arises.

Adaptations

The eagle's wing is light in weight but incredibly strong. They have powerful feet, sharp talons and spiny pads on the bottoms of their talons to snatch and grasp prey. The beak is curved and very powerful for tearing meat. The bald eagle's visual acuity is very high, but its night vision is poorly developed.

Size

Its body is 30-40 inches in length and its wingspan can be over 6 ft.

Weight

The northern bald eagle weighs 8-16 pounds.nfo

Diet

In the wild, northern bald eagles eat fish, frogs, small mammals, insects, birds, carrion and occasionally snakes. This diet will vary seasonally depending on what is available. For instance, eagles will often eat a lot of carrion in the winter. In the Zoo, the northern bald eagle eats horsemeat, rats, chickens, bones, fish and quail.

Geographic Range

The northern bald eagle may be found in much of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Canada. While the northern subspecies is more numerous, the southern bald eagle subspecies can range as far south as northern Mexico.