113-555: American Eagle may refer to: Bald eagle , sometimes called the American eagle, the national bird and national animal of the United States Aviation [ edit ] American Eagle (airline brand) , a brand name under which several regional airlines operate flights for American Airlines on a code sharing basis Envoy Air , formerly American Eagle Airlines now
226-655: A gull 's call. The calls of young birds tend to be more harsh and shrill than those of adults. The bald eagle's natural range covers most of North America, including most of Canada, all of the continental United States , and northern Mexico. It is the only sea eagle endemic to North America. Occupying varied habitats from the bayous of Louisiana to the Sonoran Desert and the eastern deciduous forests of Quebec and New England , northern birds are migratory , while southern birds are resident, remaining on their breeding territory all year. At minimum population, in
339-672: A lammergeier might have killed Aeschylus by accident. Many stories of Brazilian indigenous peoples speak about children mauled by Uiruuetê, the Harpy Eagle in Tupi language . Various large raptors like golden eagles are reported attacking human beings, but its unclear if they intend to eat them or if they have ever been successful in killing one. Some fossil evidence indicates large birds of prey occasionally preyed on prehistoric hominids. The Taung Child , an early human found in Africa,
452-877: A bald eagle flies close by, waterbirds will often fly away en masse, though they may seemingly ignore a perched eagle in other cases. when the birds fly away from a colony, this exposes their unprotected eggs and nestlings to scavengers such as gulls . While they usually target small to medium-sized seabirds, larger seabirds such as great black-backed gulls ( Larus marinus ) and northern gannets ( Morus bassanus ) and brown pelicans ( Pelecanus occidentalis ) of all ages can successfully be taken by bald eagles. Similarly, large waterbirds are occasionally killed. Geese such as wintering emperor geese ( Chen canagica ) and snow geese ( C. caerulescens ), which gather in large groups, sometimes becoming regular prey. Smaller Ross's geese ( Anser rossii ) are also taken, as well as large-sized Canada geese ( Branta canadensis ). Predation on
565-546: A bald eagle was observed carrying 6.8 kg (15 lb) mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ) fawn. Additionally, Virginia opossums ( Didelphis virginiana ) can be preyed upon. Still, predation events are rare due to their nocturnal habits. Together with the golden eagle, bald eagles are occasionally accused of preying on livestock, especially sheep ( Ovis aries ). There are a handful of proven cases of lamb predation, some specimens weighing up to 11 kg (24 lb), by bald eagles. Still, they are much less likely to attack
678-466: A body length of 70–102 cm (28–40 in). Typical wingspan is between 1.8 and 2.3 m (5 ft 11 in and 7 ft 7 in) and mass is normally between 3 and 6.3 kg (6.6 and 13.9 lb). Females are about 25% larger than males, averaging as much as 5.6 kg (12 lb), and against the males' average weight of 4.1 kg (9.0 lb). The size of the bird varies by location and generally corresponds with Bergmann's rule :
791-432: A cliff or other terrain. Migration generally takes place during the daytime, usually between the local hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., when thermals are produced by the sun. The bald eagle is an opportunistic carnivore with the capacity to consume a great variety of prey. Fish often comprise most of the eagle's diet throughout their range. In 20 food habit studies across the species' range, fish comprised 56% of
904-563: A cruise ship known as American Eagle from 2000 to 2013 Queen of the Mississippi (2015 ship) , a paddlewheel river cruise ship that entered service in 2015, originally American Eagle Sports [ edit ] American Eagles , the athletics teams representing American University United States national rugby union team , nicknamed the Eagles British Bulldog (game) , also known as American Eagle in
1017-454: A distance or during flight, strong feet with sharp talons for grasping or killing prey, and powerful, curved beaks for tearing off flesh. Although predatory birds primarily hunt live prey, many species (such as fish eagles , vultures and condors ) also scavenge and eat carrion . Although the term "bird of prey" could theoretically be taken to include all birds that actively hunt and eat other animals, ornithologists typically use
1130-467: A great deal of data is required. Dimorphisms can also be the product of intrasexual selection between males and females. It appears that both sexes of the species play a role in the sexual dimorphism within raptors; females tend to compete with other females to find good places to nest and attract males, and males competing with other males for adequate hunting ground so they appear as the most healthy mate. It has also been proposed that sexual dimorphism
1243-430: A healthy lamb than a golden eagle. Both species prefer native, wild prey and are unlikely to cause any extensive detriment to human livelihoods. There is one case of a bald eagle killing and feeding on an adult, pregnant ewe (then joined in eating the kill by at least 3 other eagles), which, weighing on average over 60 kg (130 lb), is much larger than any other known prey taken by this species. Supplemental prey
SECTION 10
#17327718445051356-531: A lack of human disturbance, spend their time in various upland, terrestrial habitats sometimes quite far away from waterways. In the northern half of North America (especially the interior portion), this terrestrial inhabitance by bald eagles tends to be especially prevalent because unfrozen water may not be accessible. Upland wintering habitats often consist of open habitats with concentrations of medium-sized mammals, such as prairies , meadows or tundra , or open forests with regular carrion access. The bald eagle
1469-455: A larger beak , straighter edged wings which are held flat (not slightly raised) and with a stiffer wing beat and feathers which do not completely cover the legs. When seen well, the golden eagle is distinctive in plumage with a more solid warm brown color than an immature bald eagle, with a reddish-golden patch to its nape and (in immature birds) a highly contrasting set of white squares on the wing. The bald eagle has sometimes been considered
1582-465: A larger image to be projected onto the retina. The visual acuity of some large raptors such as eagles and Old World vultures are the highest known among vertebrates; the wedge-tailed eagle has twice the visual acuity of a typical human and six times that of the common ostrich , the vertebrate with the largest eyes. There are two regions in the retina, called the deep and shallow fovea, that are specialized for acute vision. These regions contain
1695-806: A lot of food. On Protection Island , Washington , they commonly feed on harbor seal ( Phoca vitulina ) afterbirths, still-borns and sickly seal pups. Similarly, bald eagles in Alaska readily prey on sea otter ( Enhydra lutris ) pups. Small to medium-sized terrestrial mammalian carnivores can be taken infrequently. Mustelid including American martens ( Martes pennanti ), American minks ( Neogale vison ), and larger fisher cats ( Pekania pennanti ) are known to be hunted. Foxes are also taken, including Island foxes ( Urocyon littoralis ), Arctic foxes ( Vulpes lagopus ), and grey foxes ( Urocyon cinereoargenteus ). Although fox farmers claimed that bald eagle heavily prey on young and adult free-range Arctic fox,
1808-400: A preference for bodies of water with a circumference greater than 11 km (7 mi), and lakes with an area greater than 10 km (4 sq mi) are optimal for breeding bald eagles. The bald eagle typically requires old-growth and mature stands of coniferous or hardwood trees for perching, roosting, and nesting. Tree species reportedly is less important to the eagle pair than
1921-491: A racing wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois North American Eagle , a jet-powered automobile vying for a speed record Salem Gazette , a US newspaper briefly published as The American Eagle Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title American Eagle . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
2034-493: A record from 1876 in Wyoming County, New York of an enormous adult bald eagle that was shot and reportedly scaled 8.2 kg (18 lb). Among standard linear measurements, the wing chord is 51.5–69 cm (20.3–27.2 in), the tail is 23–37 cm (9.1–14.6 in) long, and the tarsus is 8 to 11 cm (3.1 to 4.3 in). The culmen reportedly ranges from 3 to 7.5 cm (1.2 to 3.0 in), while
2147-408: A single bald eagle successfully displaced two consecutive golden eagles from a kill. Though bald eagles face few natural threats, an unusual attacker comes in the form of the common loon ( G. immer ), which is also taken by eagles as prey. While common loons normally avoid conflict, they are highly territorial and will attack predators and competitors by stabbing at them with their knife-like bill; as
2260-574: A wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group American Eagle Aircraft Corporation , an aircraft design and manufacturing company Coins [ edit ] American Eagle bullion coins , bullion coins produced by the US Mint Eagle (United States coin) , a pre-1932 circulation gold coin Ships [ edit ] American Eagle (schooner) , a historic schooner and U.S. National Historic Landmark American Eagle (2000 ship) ,
2373-598: Is a bird of prey found in North America . A sea eagle , it has two known subspecies and forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle ( Haliaeetus albicilla ), which occupies the same niche as the bald eagle in the Palearctic . Its range includes most of Canada and Alaska , all of the contiguous United States , and northern Mexico . It is found near large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply and old-growth trees for nesting. The bald eagle
SECTION 20
#17327718445052486-600: Is a deprecated superorder within Raptores, formerly composed of the orders Falconiformes and Strigiformes. The clade was invalidated after 2012. Falconiformes is now placed in Eufalconimorphae , while Strigiformes is placed in Afroaves . The order Accipitriformes is believed to have originated 44 million years ago when it split from the common ancestor of the secretarybird ( Sagittarius serpentarius ) and
2599-449: Is a powerful flier, and soars on thermal convection currents. It reaches speeds of 56–70 km/h (35–43 mph) when gliding and flapping, and about 48 km/h (30 mph) while carrying fish. Its dive speed is between 120–160 km/h (75–99 mph), though it seldom dives vertically. Regarding their flying abilities, despite being morphologically less well adapted to faster flight than golden eagles (especially during dives),
2712-729: Is a simplified phylogeny of Telluraves which is the clade where the birds of prey belong to along with passerines and several near-passerine lineages. The orders in bold text are birds of prey orders; this is to show the paraphyly of the group as well as their relationships to other birds. Accipitriformes (hawks, vultures, and relatives) [REDACTED] Strigiformes (owls) [REDACTED] Coraciimorphae (woodpeckers, rollers, hornbills, etc.) [REDACTED] Cariamiformes (seriemas) [REDACTED] Falconiformes (falcons) [REDACTED] Psittacopasserae (parrots and songbirds) [REDACTED] A recent phylogenomic study from Wu et al. (2024) has found an alternative phylogeny for
2825-493: Is able to carry it away successfully. They obtain much of their food as carrion or via a practice known as kleptoparasitism , by which they steal prey away from other predators. Due to their dietary habits, bald eagles are frequently viewed in a negative light by humans. Thanks to their superior foraging ability and experience, adults are generally more likely to hunt live prey than immature eagles, which often obtain their food from scavenging. They are not very selective about
2938-455: Is an opportunistic feeder which subsists mainly on fish , which it swoops down upon and snatches from the water with its talons. It builds the largest nest of any North American bird and the largest tree nests ever recorded for any animal species, up to 4 m (13 ft) deep, 2.5 m (8.2 ft) wide, and 1 metric ton (1.1 short tons) in weight. Sexual maturity is attained at the age of four to five years. Bald eagles are not bald ;
3051-492: Is an order of telluravian birds consisting of the living seriemas and extinct terror birds . Jarvis et al. 2014 suggested including them in the category of birds of prey, and McClure et al. 2019 considered seriemas to be birds of prey. The Peregrine Fund also considers seriemas to be birds of prey. Like most birds of prey, seriemas and terror birds prey on vertebrates . However, seriemas were not traditionally considered birds of prey. There were traditionally classified in
3164-549: Is believed to have been killed by an eagle-like bird similar to the crowned eagle . The Haast's eagle may have preyed on early humans in New Zealand , and this conclusion would be consistent with Maori folklore . Leptoptilos robustus might have preyed on both Homo floresiensis and anatomically modern humans, and the Malagasy crowned eagle , teratorns , Woodward's eagle and Caracara major are similar in size to
3277-445: Is commonly believed that the dimorphisms found in raptors occur due to sexual selection or environmental factors. In general, hypotheses in favor of ecological factors being the cause for sexual dimorphism in raptors are rejected. This is because the ecological model is less parsimonious , meaning that its explanation is more complex than that of the sexual selection model. Additionally, ecological models are much harder to test because
3390-516: Is derived from the Latin word rapio , meaning "to seize or take by force". The common names for various birds of prey are based on structure, but many of the traditional names do not reflect the evolutionary relationships between the groups. Many of these English language group names originally referred to particular species encountered in Britain . As English-speaking people travelled further,
3503-605: Is habitual mainly in Alaska) and fish-processing plants. In Southeast Alaska , fish comprise approximately 66% of the year-round diet of bald eagles and 78% of the prey brought to the nest by the parents. Eagles living in the Columbia River Estuary in Oregon were found to rely on fish for 90% of their dietary intake. At least 100 species of fish have been recorded in the bald eagle's diet. From observation in
American Eagle - Misplaced Pages Continue
3616-409: Is held immobile by the front toes. The beak is large and hooked, with a yellow cere . The adult bald eagle is unmistakable in its native range. The closely related African fish eagle ( Haliaeetus vocifer ) (from far outside the bald eagle's range) also has a brown body (albeit of somewhat more rufous hue), white head and tail, but differs from the bald eagle in having a white chest and black tip to
3729-409: Is merely 455 g (1.003 lb) lighter in mean body mass and exceeds the bald eagle in mean wing chord length by around 3 cm (1.2 in). Additionally, the bald eagle's close cousins, the relatively longer-winged but shorter-tailed white-tailed eagle and the overall larger Steller's sea eagle ( Haliaeetus pelagicus ), may, rarely, wander to coastal Alaska from Asia. The bald eagle has
3842-411: Is merely the product of disruptive selection , and is merely a stepping stone in the process of speciation, especially if the traits that define gender are independent across a species. Sexual dimorphism can be viewed as something that can accelerate the rate of speciation. In non-predatory birds, males are typically larger than females. However, in birds of prey, the opposite is the case. For instance,
3955-418: Is moderately long and slightly wedge-shaped. Males and females are identical in plumage coloration, but sexual dimorphism is evident in the species, in that females are 25% larger than males. The beak, feet and irises are bright yellow. The legs are feather-free, and the toes are short and powerful with large talons. The highly developed talon of the hind toe is used to pierce the vital areas of prey while it
4068-504: Is now generally thought that golden eagles eat more carrion than was previously assumed). However, the two species are roughly equal in size, aggressiveness and physical strength and so competitions can go either way. Neither species is known to be dominant, and the outcome depends on the size and disposition of the individual eagles involved. Wintering bald and golden eagles in Utah both sometimes won conflicts, though in one recorded instance
4181-685: Is readily taken given the opportunity. In some areas, reptiles may become regular prey, especially in warm areas such as Florida where reptile diversity is high. Turtles are perhaps the most regularly hunted type of reptile. In coastal New Jersey , 14 of 20 studied eagle nests included remains of turtles. The main species found were common musk turtles ( Sternotherus odoratus ), diamondback terrapin ( Malaclemys terrapin ) and juvenile common snapping turtles ( Chelydra serpentina ). In these New Jersey nests, mainly subadult and small adults were taken, ranging in carapace length from 9.2 to 17.1 cm (3.6 to 6.7 in). Similarly, many turtles were recorded in
4294-413: Is relatively easy for the much larger eagles to catch and fly with. American herring gull ( Larus smithsonianus ) are the favored avian prey species for eagles living around Lake Superior . Black ducks ( Anas rubripes ), common eiders ( Somateria mollissima ), and double-crested cormorants ( Phalacrocorax auritus ) are also frequently taken in coastal Maine and velvet scoter ( Melanitta fusca )
4407-598: The Greater Yellowstone area average 27 m (89 ft) high. Trees or forest used for nesting should have a canopy cover of no more than 60%, and no less than 20%, and be in close proximity to water. Most nests have been found within 200 m (660 ft) of open water. The greatest distance from open water recorded for a bald eagle nest was over 3 km (1.9 mi), in Florida. Bald eagle nests are often very large in order to compensate for size of
4520-939: The Willamette River in Portland , Oregon or John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, which are surrounded by a great quantity of human activity. Even more contrary to the usual sensitivity to disturbance, a family of bald eagles moved to the Harlem neighborhood in New York City in 2010. While wintering, bald eagles tend to be less habitat and disturbance sensitive. They will commonly congregate at spots with plentiful perches and waters with plentiful prey and (in northern climes) partially unfrozen waters. Alternately, non-breeding or wintering bald eagles, particularly in areas with
4633-528: The brown bullhead ( Ameiurus nebulosus ) and any species in the genus Ictalurus as well as mullet , trout , needlefish , and eels . Chain pickerels ( Esox niger ) and white suckers ( Catostomus commersonii ) are frequently taken in interior Maine . Wintering eagles on the Platte River in Nebraska preyed mainly on American gizzard shads and common carp. Bald eagles are also known to eat
American Eagle - Misplaced Pages Continue
4746-497: The kestrel is a type of falcon in which males are the primary providers, and the females are responsible for nurturing the young. In this species, the smaller the kestrels are, the less food is needed and thus, they can survive in environments that are harsher. This is particularly true in the male kestrels. It has become more energetically favorable for male kestrels to remain smaller than their female counterparts because smaller males have an agility advantage when it comes to defending
4859-641: The merlin ( Falco columbarius ). The taxonomy of Carl Linnaeus grouped birds (class Aves) into orders, genera, and species, with no formal ranks between genus and order. He placed all birds of prey into a single order, Accipitres , subdividing this into four genera: Vultur (vultures), Falco (eagles, hawks, falcons, etc.), Strix (owls), and Lanius (shrikes). This approach was followed by subsequent authors such as Gmelin , Latham and Turton . Louis Pierre Vieillot used additional ranks: order, tribe, family, genus, species. Birds of prey (order Accipitres) were divided into diurnal and nocturnal tribes;
4972-520: The salmon spawning in the area. Similar congregations of wintering bald eagles at open lakes and rivers, wherein fish are readily available for hunting or scavenging, are observed in the northern United States. It has occurred as a vagrant twice in Ireland; a juvenile was shot illegally in Fermanagh on January 11, 1973 (misidentified at first as a white-tailed eagle ), and an exhausted juvenile
5085-698: The 1950s, it was largely restricted to Alaska , the Aleutian Islands , northern and eastern Canada, and Florida. From 1966 to 2015 bald eagle numbers increased substantially throughout its winter and breeding ranges, and as of 2018 the species nests in every continental state and province in the United States and Canada. The majority of bald eagles in Canada are found along the British Columbia coast while large populations are found in
5198-473: The Chinook salmon's large size (12 to 18 kg (26 to 40 lb) average adult size) probably being taken only as carrion and a single carcass can attract several eagles. Also important in the estuaries and shallow coastlines of southern Alaska are Pacific herring ( Clupea pallasii ), Pacific sand lance ( Ammodytes hexapterus ) and eulachon ( Thaleichthys pacificus ). In Oregon's Columbia River Estuary,
5311-721: The Columbia River, 58% of the fish were caught alive by the eagle, 24% were scavenged as carcasses and 18% were pirated away from other animals. In the Pacific Northwest , spawning trout and salmon provide most of the bald eagles' diet from late summer throughout fall. Though bald eagles occasionally catch live salmon, they usually scavenge spawned salmon carcass. Southeast Alaskan eagles largely prey on pink salmon ( Oncorhynchus gorbuscha ), coho salmon ( O. kisutch ) and, more locally, sockeye salmon ( O. nerka ), with Chinook salmon ( O. tshawytscha ). Due to
5424-673: The English name is from an older usage meaning "having white on the face or head" rather than "hairless", referring to the white head feathers contrasting with the darker body. The genus name is Neo-Latin : Haliaeetus (from the Ancient Greek : ἁλιάετος , romanized : haliaetos , lit. 'sea eagle'), and the specific name, leucocephalus , is Latinized ( Ancient Greek : λευκός , romanized : leukos , lit. 'white') and ( κεφαλή , kephalḗ , 'head'). The bald eagle
5537-475: The Haast's eagle, implying that they similarly could pose a threat to a human being. Birds of prey have incredible vision and rely heavily on it for a number of tasks. They utilize their high visual acuity to obtain food, navigate their surroundings, distinguish and flee from predators, mating, nest construction, and much more. They accomplish these tasks with a large eye in relation to their skull, which allows for
5650-619: The U.S. Other [ edit ] Bald eagle , sometimes called the American eagle, the national bird and national animal of the US Boston College Eagles , the sports team for Boston College, based in America. American Eagle (ammunition brand) American Eagle Outfitters , a U.S. clothing retailer AMC Eagle , a car also known as American Eagle American Eagle (comics) , several characters in comics named American Eagle American Eagle (roller coaster) ,
5763-489: The accipitrid species. The phylogeny of Accipitriformes is complex and difficult to unravel. Widespread paraphylies were observed in many phylogenetic studies. More recent and detailed studies show similar results. However, according to the findings of a 2014 study, the sister relationship between larger clades of Accipitriformes was well supported (e.g. relationship of Harpagus kites to buzzards and sea eagles and these latter two with Accipiter hawks are sister taxa of
SECTION 50
#17327718445055876-454: The bald eagle is considered surprisingly maneuverable in flight. Bald eagles have also been recorded catching up to and then swooping under geese in flight, turning over and thrusting their talons into the other bird's breast. It is partially migratory, depending on location. If its territory has access to open water, it remains there year-round, but if the body of water freezes during the winter, making it impossible to obtain food, it migrates to
5989-468: The bill. The plumage of the immature is a dark brown overlaid with messy white streaking until the fifth (rarely fourth, very rarely third) year, when it reaches sexual maturity. Immature bald eagles are distinguishable from the golden eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos ), the only other very large, non-vulturine raptorial bird in North America, in that the former has a larger, more protruding head with
6102-697: The bills of birds of prey shown by hunters. In Britain, kites and buzzards were seen as destroyers of game and killed, for instance in 1684–5 alone as many as 100 kites were killed. Rewards for their killing were also in force in the Netherlands from 1756. From 1705 to 1800, it has been estimated that 624087 birds of prey were killed in a part of Germany that included Hannover, Luneburg, Lauenburg and Bremen with 14125 claws deposited just in 1796–97. Many species also develop lead poisoning after accidental consumption of lead shot when feeding on animals that had been shot by hunters. Lead pellets from direct shooting that
6215-531: The biogeographic realms of the Southern Hemisphere. The appearance of migratory behaviour occurred in the tropics parallel with the range expansion of migratory species to temperate habitats. Similar results of southern origin in other taxonomic groups can be found in the literature. Distribution and biogeographic history highly determine the origin of migration in birds of prey. Based on some comparative analyses, diet breadth also has an effect on
6328-586: The birds have escaped from also cause reduced fitness and premature deaths. Some evidence supports the contention that the African crowned eagle occasionally views human children as prey, with a witness account of one attack (in which the victim, a seven-year-old boy, survived and the eagle was killed), and the discovery of part of a human child skull in a nest. This would make it the only living bird known to prey on humans, although other birds such as ostriches and cassowaries have killed humans in self-defense and
6441-523: The birds. The largest recorded nest was found in Florida in 1963, and was measured at nearly 10 feet wide and 20 feet deep. In Florida, nesting habitats often consist of Mangrove swamps, the shorelines of lakes and rivers, pinelands , seasonally flooded flatwoods , hardwood swamps , and open prairies and pastureland with scattered tall trees. Favored nesting trees in Florida are slash pines ( Pinus elliottii ), longleaf pines ( P. palustris ), loblolly pines ( P. taeda ) and cypress trees , but for
6554-709: The breeding season around Lake Britton in California, fish measuring 34 to 38 cm (13 to 15 in) were taken 71.8% of the time by parent eagles while fish measuring 23 to 27.5 cm (9.1 to 10.8 in) were chosen only 25% of the time. At nests around Lake Superior , the remains of fish (mostly suckers ) were found to average 35.4 cm (13.9 in) in total length. In the Columbia River estuary, most preyed on by eagles were estimated to measure less than 30 cm (12 in), but larger fish between 30 and 60 cm (12 and 24 in) or even exceeding 60 cm (24 in) in length also taken especially during
6667-523: The clade containing Aquilinae and Harpiinae). The diurnal birds of prey are formally classified into six families of two different orders (Accipitriformes and Falconiformes). These families were traditionally grouped together in a single order Falconiformes but are now split into two orders, the Falconiformes and Accipitriformes . The Cathartidae are sometimes placed in a separate order Cathartiformes . Formerly, they were sometimes placed in
6780-602: The condition or origin, whether provided by humans, other animals, auto accidents or natural causes, of a carcass's presence, but will avoid eating carrion where disturbances from humans are a regular occurrence. They will scavenge carcasses up to the size of whales, though carcasses of ungulates and large fish are seemingly preferred. Congregated wintering waterfowl are frequently exploited for carcasses to scavenge by immature eagles in harsh winter weather. Bald eagles also may sometimes feed on material scavenged or stolen from campsites and picnics, as well as garbage dumps (dump usage
6893-1926: The consumption of the dead victims. Nine species of other accipitrids and owls are known to have been preyed upon by bald eagles. Owl prey species have ranged in size from western screech-owls ( Megascops kennicotti ) to snowy owls ( Bubo scandiacus ). Larger diurnal raptors known to have fallen victim to bald eagles have included red-tailed hawks ( Buteo jamaicensis ), peregrine falcons ( Falco peregrinus ), northern goshawks ( Accipiter gentilis ), ospreys ( Pandion haliaetus ) and black ( Coragyps atratus ) and turkey vultures ( Cathartes aura ). Mammalian preys are generally less frequently taken than fish or avian prey. However, in some regions, such as landlocked areas of North America, wintering bald eagles may become habitual predators of medium-sized mammals that occur in colonies or local concentrations, such as prairie dogs ( Cynomys sp.) and jackrabbits ( Lepus sp.). Bald eagles in Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge often hunt in pair to catch cottontails, jackrabbits and prairie dogs. They can attack and prey on rabbits and hares of nearly any size, from marsh rabbits ( Sylvilagus palustris ) to black and white-tailed jackrabbits ( Lepus californicus & L. townsendii ), and Arctic hares ( Lepus arcticus ). In San Luis Valley , white-tailed jackrabbits can be important prey. Additionally, rodents such as montane voles ( Microtus montanus ), brown rats ( Rattus norvegicus ), and various squirrels are taken as supplementary prey. Larger rodents such as muskrats ( Ondatra zibethicus ), young or small adult nutrias ( Myocastor coypus ) and groundhogs ( Marmota monax ) are also preyed upon. Even American porcupines ( Erethizon dorsatum ) are reportedly attacked and killed. Where available, seal colonies can provide
SECTION 60
#17327718445057006-1439: The diet in the Chesapeake Bay . In Texas , softshell turtles are the most frequently taken prey, and a large number of Barbour's map turtles are taken in Torreya State Park . Other reptilian and amphibian prey includes southern alligator lizards ( Elgaria multicarinata ), snakes such as garter snakes and rattlesnakes , and Greater siren ( Siren lacertina ). Invertebrates are occasionally taken. In Alaska , eagles feed on sea urchins ( Strongylocentrotus sp.), chitons, mussels, and crabs. Other various mollusks such as land snails , abalones , bivalves , periwinkles , blue mussels , squids , and starfishes are taken as well. When competing for food, eagles will usually dominate other fish-eaters and scavengers, aggressively displacing mammals such as coyotes ( Canis latrans ) and foxes, and birds such as corvids , gulls , vultures and other raptors . Occasionally, coyotes, bobcats ( Lynx rufus ) and domestic dogs ( Canis familiaris ) can displace eagles from carrion, usually less confident immature birds, as has been recorded in Maine. Bald eagles are less active, bold predators than golden eagles and get relatively more of their food as carrion and from kleptoparasitism (although it
7119-528: The diet of nesting eagles, birds 28%, mammals 14% and other prey 2%. More than 400 species are known to be included in the bald eagle's prey spectrum, far more than its ecological equivalent in the Old World, the white-tailed eagle , is known to take. Despite its considerably lower population, the bald eagle may come in second amongst all North American accipitrids, slightly behind only the red-tailed hawk , in number of prey species recorded. To hunt fish,
7232-447: The eagle swoops down over the water and snatches the fish out of the water with its talons . They eat by holding the fish in one claw and tearing the flesh with the other. Eagles have structures on their toes called spicules that allow them to grasp fish. Osprey also have this adaptation. Bird prey may occasionally be attacked in flight, with prey up to the size of Canada geese attacked and killed in mid-air. It has been estimated that
7345-545: The eagle's diet is variable, depending on the quantity and availability of fish near the water's surface. Waterbirds can seasonally comprise from 7% to 80% of the prey selection for eagles in certain localities. Overall, birds are the most diverse group in the bald eagle's prey spectrum, with 200 prey species recorded. Bird species most preferred as prey by eagles tend to be medium-sized, such as western grebes ( Aechmophorus occidentalis ), mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos ), and American coots ( Fulica americana ) as such prey
7458-823: The eastern Appalachian Mountains without apparent conflict. Bald eagles are frequently mobbed by smaller raptors, due to their infrequent but unpredictable tendency to hunt other birds of prey. Many bald eagles are habitual kleptoparasites, especially in winters when fish are harder to come by. They have been recorded stealing fish from other predators such as ospreys , herons and even otters . They have also been recorded opportunistically pirating birds from peregrine falcons ( Falco peregrinus ), prairie dogs from ferruginous hawks ( Buteo regalis ) and even jackrabbits from golden eagles . When they approach scavengers such as dogs, gulls or vultures at carrion sites, they often attack them in an attempt to force them to disgorge their food. Healthy adult bald eagles are not preyed upon in
7571-439: The evolution of migratory behaviour in this group, but its relevance needs further investigation. The evolution of migration in animals seems to be a complex and difficult topic with many unanswered questions. A recent study discovered new connections between migration and the ecology, life history of raptors. A brief overview from abstract of the published paper shows that "clutch size and hunting strategies have been proved to be
7684-471: The existing literature combining anatomical, genetic, and behavioural studies showed that, in general, raptors have functional olfactory systems that they are likely to use in a range of different contexts. Birds of prey have been historically persecuted both directly and indirectly. In the Danish Faroe Islands , there were rewards Naebbetold (by royal decree from 1741) given in return for
7797-493: The familiar names were applied to new birds with similar characteristics. Names that have generalised this way include: kite ( Milvus milvus ), sparrowhawk or sparhawk ( Accipiter nisus ), goshawk ( Accipiter gentilis ), kestrel ( Falco tinninculus ), hobby ( Falco subbuteo ), harrier (simplified from "hen-harrier", Circus cyaneus ), buzzard ( Buteo buteo ). Some names have not generalised, and refer to single species (or groups of closely related (sub)species), such as
7910-519: The fish (possibly due to overfishing) and otters (cause unknown) have had steep population declines, causing concern for seabird conservation. Because of this more extensive predation, some biologist has expressed concern that murres are heading for a "conservation collision" due to heavy eagle predation. Eagles have been confirmed to attack nocturnally active, burrow-nesting seabird species such as storm petrels and shearwaters by digging out their burrows and feeding on all animals they find inside. If
8023-709: The following fish species: rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ), white catfish ( Ameiurus catus ), rock greenling ( Hexagrammos lagocephalus ), Pacific cod ( Gadus macrocephalus ), Atka mackerel ( Pleurogrammus monopterygius ), largemouth bass ( Micropterus salmoides ), northern pike ( Esox lucius ), striped bass ( Morone saxatilis ), dogfish shark ( Squalidae.sp ) and Blue walleye ( Sander vitreus ). Fish taken by bald eagles varies in size, but bald eagles take larger fish than other piscivorous birds in North America, typically range from 20 to 75 cm (7.9 to 29.5 in) and prefer 36 cm (14 in) fish. When experimenters offered fish of different sizes in
8136-546: The forests of Alberta , Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario . Bald eagles also congregate in certain locations in winter. From November until February, one to two thousand birds winter in Squamish, British Columbia , about halfway between Vancouver and Whistler . In March 2024, bald eagles were found nesting in Toronto for the first time. The birds primarily gather along the Squamish and Cheakamus Rivers, attracted by
8249-705: The golden eagle, with the bald species estimated to number at least 150,000 individuals, about twice as many golden eagles there are estimated to live in North America. Due to this, bald eagles often outnumber golden eagles at attractive food sources. Despite the potential for contention between these animals, in New Jersey during winter, a golden eagle and numerous bald eagles were observed to hunt snow geese alongside each other without conflict. Similarly, both eagle species have been recorded, via video-monitoring, to feed on gut piles and carcasses of white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) in remote forest clearings in
8362-727: The gripping power (pounds by square inch) of the bald eagle is ten times greater than that of a human. Bald eagles can fly with fish at least equal to their own weight, but if the fish is too heavy to lift, the eagle may be dragged into the water. Bald eagles are able to swim, in some cases dragging its catch ashore with its talons, but some eagles drown or succumb to hypothermia . Many sources claim that bald eagles, like all large eagles, cannot normally take flight carrying prey more than half of their own weight unless aided by favorable wind conditions. On numerous occasions, when large prey such as large fish including mature salmon or geese are attacked, eagles have been seen to make contact and then drag
8475-407: The ground. In a more typical tree standing on dry ground, nests may be located from 16 to 38 m (52 to 125 ft) in height. In Chesapeake Bay , nesting trees averaged 82 cm (32 in) in diameter and 28 m (92 ft) in total height, while in Florida, the average nesting tree stands 23 m (75 ft) high and is 23 cm (9.1 in) in diameter. Trees used for nesting in
8588-400: The highest density of photoreceptors, and provide the highest points of visual acuity. The deep fovea points forward at an approximate 45° angle, while the shallow fovea points approximately 15° to the right or left of the head axis. Several raptor species repeatedly cock their heads into three distinct positions while observing an object. First, is straight ahead with their head pointed towards
8701-558: The kills secondarily. Once North Pacific salmon die off after spawning, usually local bald eagles eat salmon carcasses almost exclusively. Eagles in Washington need to consume 489 g (1.078 lb) of fish each day for survival, with adults generally consuming more than juveniles and thus reducing potential energy deficiency and increasing survival during winter. Behind fish, the next most significant prey base for bald eagles are other waterbirds . The contribution of such birds to
8814-899: The largest subspecies ( Branta canadensis maxima ) has been reported. Other large waterbird prey include common loons ( Gavia immer ) of all ages. Large wading birds can also fall prey to bald eagles. For the great blue herons ( Ardea herodias ), bald eagles are their only serious enemies of all ages. Slightly larger Sandhill cranes ( Grus canadensis ) can be taken as well. While adult whooping cranes ( Grus americana ) are too large and formidable, their chicks can fall prey to bald eagles. They even occasionally prey on adult tundra swans ( Cygnus columbianus ). Young trumpeter swans ( Cygnus buccinator ) are also taken, and an unsuccessful attack on an adult swan has been photographed. Bald eagles have been occasionally recorded as killing other raptors . In some cases, these may be attacks of competition or kleptoparasitism on rival species but end with
8927-485: The largest true raptor ( accipitrid ) in North America. The only larger species of raptor-like bird is the California condor ( Gymnogyps californianus ), a New World vulture which today is not generally considered a taxonomic ally of true accipitrids. However, the golden eagle, averaging 4.18 kg (9.2 lb) and 63 cm (25 in) in wing chord length in its American race ( Aquila chrysaetos canadensis ),
9040-518: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=American_Eagle&oldid=1241764470 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Bald eagle Falco pygargus Daudin, 1800 (nec Linnaeus) Falco ossifragus Shaw, 1809 (nec Linnaeus) The bald eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus )
9153-608: The males. The flight includes swoops, chases, and cartwheels, in which they fly high, lock talons, and free-fall, separating just before hitting the ground. Usually, a territory defended by a mature pair will be 1 to 2 km (0.62 to 1.24 mi) of waterside habitat. Bird of prey Birds of prey or predatory birds , also known as raptors , are hypercarnivorous bird species that actively hunt and feed on other vertebrates (mainly mammals , reptiles and other smaller birds). In addition to speed and strength, these predators have keen eyesight for detecting prey from
9266-517: The measurement from the gape to the tip of the bill is 7–9 cm (2.8–3.5 in). The bill size is unusually variable: Alaskan eagles can have up to twice the bill length of birds from the southern United States ( Georgia , Louisiana , Florida), with means including both sexes of 6.83 cm (2.69 in) and 4.12 cm (1.62 in) in culmen length, respectively, from these two areas. The call consists of weak staccato, chirping whistles, kleek kik ik ik ik , somewhat similar in cadence to
9379-603: The most important variables in shaping distribution areas, and also the geographic dissimilarities may mask important relationships between life history traits and migratory behaviours. The West Palearctic-Afrotropical and the North-South American migratory systems are fundamentally different from the East Palearctic-Indomalayan system, owing to the presence versus absence of ecological barriers." Maximum entropy modelling can help in answering
9492-556: The most significant prey species were largescale suckers ( Catostomus macrocheilus ) (17.3% of the prey selected there), American shad ( Alosa sapidissima ; 13%) and common carp ( Cyprinus carpio ; 10.8%). Eagles living in the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland were found to subsist largely on American gizzard shad ( Dorosoma cepedianum ), threadfin shad ( Dorosoma petenense ) and white bass ( Morone chrysops ). Floridian eagles have been reported to prey on catfish , most prevalently
9605-479: The name derives from an older meaning of the word, "white headed". The adult is mainly brown with a white head and tail. The sexes are identical in plumage , but females are about 25 percent larger than males. The yellow beak is large and hooked. The plumage of the immature is brown. The bald eagle is the national symbol of the United States of America and appears on its seal . In the late 20th century it
9718-821: The narrower definition followed in this page, excluding many piscivorous predators such as storks , cranes , herons , gulls , skuas , penguins , and kingfishers , as well as many primarily insectivorous birds such as passerines (e.g. shrikes ), nightjars , frogmouths , songbirds such as crows and ravens , alongside opportunistic predators from predominantly frugivorous or herbivorous ratites such as cassowaries and rheas . Some extinct predatory telluravian birds had talons similar to those of modern birds of prey, including mousebird relatives ( Sandcoleidae ), and Messelasturidae indicating possible common descent . Some Enantiornithes also had such talons, indicating possible convergent evolution , as enanthiornithines weren't even modern birds . The term raptor
9831-444: The nest and hunting. Larger females are favored because they can incubate larger numbers of offspring, while also being able to brood a larger clutch size. It is a long-standing belief that birds lack any sense of smell, but it has become clear that many birds do have functional olfactory systems . Despite this, most raptors are still considered to primarily rely on vision, with raptor vision being extensively studied. A 2020 review of
9944-599: The nesting trees used by eagles, followed by hemlocks ( Tsuga ) at 20%. Increasingly, eagles nest in human-made reservoirs stocked with fish. The bald eagle is usually quite sensitive to human activity while nesting, and is found most commonly in areas with minimal human disturbance. It chooses sites more than 1.2 km (0.75 mi) from low-density human disturbance and more than 1.8 km (1.1 mi) from medium- to high-density human disturbance. However, bald eagles will occasionally nest in large estuaries or secluded groves within major cities, such as Hardtack Island on
10057-567: The non-breeding seasons. They can take fish up to at least twice their own weight, such as large mature salmons , carps , or even muskellunge ( Esox masquinongy ), by dragging its catch with talons and pull toward ashore. Much larger marine fish such as Pacific halibut ( Hippoglossus stenolepis ) and lemon sharks ( Negaprion brevirostris ) have been recorded among bald eagle prey though probably are only taken as young, as small, newly mature fish, or as carrion. Benthic fishes such as catfish are usually consumed after they die and float to
10170-629: The object. Second and third are sideways to the right or left of the object, with their head axis positioned approximately 40° adjacent to the object. This movement is believed to be associated with lining up the incoming image to fall on the deep fovea. Raptors will choose which head position to use depending on the distance to the object. At distances as close as 8m, they used primarily binocular vision. At distances greater than 21m, they spent more time using monocular vision. At distances greater than 40m, they spent 80% or more time using their monocular vision. This suggests that raptors tilt their head to rely on
10283-470: The oldest dates published so far in the case of birds of prey. For example, a previous reconstruction of migratory behaviour in one Buteo clade with a result of the origin of migration around 5 million years ago was also supported by that study. Migratory species of raptors may have had a southern origin because it seems that all of the major lineages within Accipitridae had an origin in one of
10396-412: The order Ciconiiformes . The secretary bird and/or osprey are sometimes listed as subfamilies of Acciptridae: Sagittariinae and Pandioninae, respectively. Australia's letter-winged kite is a member of the family Accipitridae , although it is a nocturnal bird. The nocturnal birds of prey—the owls —are classified separately as members of two extant families of the order Strigiformes : Below
10509-503: The order Gruiformes . And they are still not considered birds of prey in general parlance. Their bodies are also shaped completely differently from birds of prey. They have long legs and long necks. While secretarybirds also have long legs, they otherwise resemble raptors. Seriemas do not. Their beak is hooked, but too long. Migratory behaviour evolved multiple times within accipitrid raptors. The earliest event occurred nearly 14 to 12 million years ago. This result seems to be one of
10622-449: The other comes behind it in order to ambush it. While hunting waterfowl, bald eagles repeatedly fly at a target and cause it to dive repeatedly, hoping to exhaust the victim so it can be caught (white-tailed eagles have been recorded hunting waterfowl in the same way). When hunting concentrated prey, a successful catch often results in the hunting eagle being pursued by other eagles and needing to find an isolated perch for consumption if it
10735-813: The owls remained monogeneric (family Ægolii, genus Strix ), whilst the diurnal raptors were divided into three families: Vulturini, Gypaëti, and Accipitrini. Thus Vieillot's families were similar to the Linnaean genera, with the difference that shrikes were no longer included amongst the birds of prey. In addition to the original Vultur and Falco (now reduced in scope), Vieillot adopted four genera from Savigny: Phene , Haliæetus , Pandion , and Elanus . He also introduced five new genera of vultures ( Gypagus , Catharista , Daptrius , Ibycter , Polyborus ) and eleven new genera of accipitrines ( Aquila , Circaëtus , Circus , Buteo , Milvus , Ictinia , Physeta , Harpia , Spizaëtus , Asturina , Sparvius ). Falconimorphae
10848-833: The placement of the birds of prey. Their analysis has found support in a clade consisting of the Strigiformes and Accipitriformes in new clade Hieraves . Hieraves was also recovered to be the sister clade to Australaves (which it includes the Cariamiformes and Falconiformes along with Psittacopasserae ). Below is their phylogeny from the study. Coraciimorphae (woodpeckers, rollers, hornbills, etc.) [REDACTED] Strigiformes (owls) [REDACTED] Accipitriformes (hawks, vultures, and relatives) [REDACTED] Cariamiformes (seriemas) [REDACTED] Falconiformes (falcons) [REDACTED] Psittacopasserae (parrots and songbirds) [REDACTED] Cariamiformes
10961-678: The predation events are sporadic. In one instance, two bald Eagles fed upon a red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) that had tried to cross a frozen Delaware Lake . Other medium-sized carnivorans such as striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ), American hog-nosed skunks ( Conepatus leuconotus ), and common raccoons ( Procyon lotor ) are taken, as well as domestic cats ( Felis catus ) and dogs ( canis familiaris ). Other wild mammalian prey include fawns of deer such as white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) and Sitka deer ( Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis ), which weigh around 3 kg (6.6 lb) can be taken alive by bald eagles. In one instance,
11074-527: The prey in a strenuously labored, low flight over the water to a bank, where they then finish off and dismember the prey. When food is abundant, an eagle can gorge itself by storing up to 1 kg (2.2 lb) of food in a pouch in the throat called a crop. Gorging allows the bird to fast for several days if food becomes unavailable. Occasionally, bald eagles may hunt cooperatively when confronting prey, especially relatively large prey such as jackrabbits or herons, with one bird distracting potential prey, while
11187-464: The question: why species winters at one location while the others are elsewhere. Temperature and precipitation related factors differ in the limitation of species distributions. "This suggests that the migratory behaviours differ among the three main migratory routes for these species" which may have important conservational consequences in the protection of migratory raptors. Birds of prey (raptors) are known to display patterns of sexual dimorphism . It
11300-403: The range of the bald eagle has increased following conservation efforts, these interactions have been observed on several occasions, including a fatality of a bald eagle in Maine that is presumed to have come about as a result of it attacking a nest, then having a fatal puncture wound inflicted by one or both loon parents. The bald eagle is thought to be much more numerous in North America than
11413-545: The same ecological niche in their respective ranges. The pair diverged from other sea eagles at the beginning of the Early Miocene (c. 10 Ma BP ) at the latest, but possibly as early as the Early/Middle Oligocene , 28 Ma BP, if the most ancient fossil record is correctly assigned to this genus . The plumage of an adult bald eagle is evenly dark brown with a white head and tail. The tail
11526-409: The south or to the coast. A number of populations are subject to post-breeding dispersal, mainly in juveniles; Florida eagles, for example, will disperse northwards in the summer. The bald eagle selects migration routes which take advantage of thermals , updrafts , and food resources. During migration, it may ascend in a thermal and then glide down, or may ascend in updrafts created by the wind against
11639-448: The southern coastal areas where mangroves are usually used. In Wyoming , groves of mature cottonwoods or tall pines found along streams and rivers are typical bald eagle nesting habitats. Wyoming eagles may inhabit habitat types ranging from large, old-growth stands of ponderosa pines ( Pinus ponderosa ) to narrow strips of riparian trees surrounded by rangeland. In Southeast Alaska , Sitka spruce ( Picea sitchensis ) provided 78% of
11752-575: The species increases in size further away from the equator and the tropics. For example, eagles from South Carolina average 3.27 kg (7.2 lb) in mass and 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) in wingspan, smaller than their northern counterparts. One field guide in Florida listed similarly small sizes for bald eagles there, at about 4.13 kg (9.1 lb). Of intermediate size, 117 migrant bald eagles in Glacier National Park were found to average 4.22 kg (9.3 lb) but this
11865-473: The surface, though while temporarily swimming in the open may be more vulnerable to predation than most fish since their eyes focus downwards. Bald eagles also regularly exploit water turbines which produce battered, stunned or dead fish easily consumed. Predators who leave behind scraps of dead fish that they kill, such as brown bears ( Ursus arctos ), gray wolves ( Canis lupus ) and red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ), may be habitually followed in order to scavenge
11978-436: The tree's height, composition and location. Perhaps of paramount importance for this species is an abundance of comparatively large trees surrounding the body of water. Selected trees must have good visibility, be over 20 m (66 ft) tall, an open structure, and proximity to prey. If nesting trees are in standing water such as in a mangrove swamp, the nest can be located fairly low, at as low as 6 m (20 ft) above
12091-526: The wild and are thus considered apex predators . Bald eagles are sexually mature at four or five years of age. When they are old enough to breed, they often return to the area where they were born. Bald eagles have high mate fidelity and generally mate for life . However, if one pair member dies or disappears, the survivor will choose a new mate. A pair that has repeatedly failed in breeding attempts may split and look for new mates. Bald eagle courtship involves elaborate, spectacular calls and flight displays by
12204-411: The wings. A survey of adult weights in Alaska showed that females there weighed on average 5.35 kg (11.8 lb), respectively, and males weighed 4.23 kg (9.3 lb) against immatures which averaged 5.09 kg (11.2 lb) and 4.05 kg (8.9 lb) in the two sexes. An Alaskan adult female eagle that was considered outsized weighed some 7.4 kg (16 lb). R.S. Palmer listed
12317-542: Was captured near Castleisland , County Kerry on November 15, 1987. There is also a record of it from Llyn Coron, Anglesey, in the United Kingdom, from October 17, 1978; the provenance of this individual eagle has remained in dispute. The bald eagle occurs during its breeding season in virtually any kind of American wetland habitat such as seacoasts , rivers, large lakes or marshes or other large bodies of open water with an abundance of fish. Studies have shown
12430-651: Was dominant prey in San Miguel Island . Due to easy accessibility and lack of formidable nest defense against eagles by such species, bald eagles are capable of preying on such seabirds at all ages, from eggs to mature adults, and they can effectively cull large portions of a colony. Along some portions of the North Pacific coastline, bald eagles which had historically preyed mainly kelp -dwelling fish and supplementally sea otter ( Enhydra lutris ) pups are now preying mainly on seabird colonies since both
12543-542: Was mostly (possibly post-dispersal) juvenile eagles, with 6 adults here averaging 4.3 kg (9.5 lb). Wintering eagles in Arizona (winter weights are usually the highest of the year since, like many raptors, they spend the highest percentage of time foraging during winter) were found to average 4.74 kg (10.4 lb). The largest eagles are from Alaska , where large females may weigh more than 7 kg (15 lb) and span 2.44 m (8 ft 0 in) across
12656-416: Was on the brink of extirpation in the contiguous United States. Populations have since recovered, and the species' status was upgraded from " endangered " to " threatened " in 1995 and removed from the list altogether in 2007. The bald eagle is placed in the genus Haliaeetus ( sea eagles ), and gets both its common and specific scientific names from the distinctive appearance of the adult's head. Bald in
12769-482: Was one of the many species originally described by Carl Linnaeus in his 18th-century work Systema Naturae , under the name Falco leucocephalus . There are two recognized subspecies of bald eagle: The bald eagle forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle of Eurasia . This species pair consists of a white-headed and a tan-headed species of roughly equal size; the white-tailed eagle also has overall somewhat paler brown body plumage. The two species fill
#504495