Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus

CLASS

Aves

ORDER

Cathartiformes

FAMILY

Cathartidae

Range

North America

Habitat

Coastlines, lakes, rivers, swamps, and marshes

Diet

Mainly fish; will hunt rabbits, squirrels, other birds, and even young deer

Facts

• A bald eagle can reach a speed of up to 200 miles per hour when diving through the air.
• An eagle's nest, or aerie, consists of huge masses of sticks atop tall trees or cliffs.
• Well-established nests may grow as large as 10 feet across, 20 feet deep, and weigh over 2 tons!
• When a bald eagle loses a feather on one wing, it will lose a matching one on the other. This way it doesn't lose its balance!

Conservation

Classified as threatened in southern Canada and most of the United States by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service; still abundant in its northern range, especially in Alaska.

Bald eagles are protected by wildlife laws.

It is a federal offense to injure or kill owls, hawks, eagles, and other falcons.