Young bald eagles do not have a white head and tail.
COMPLETE SPECIES PROFILE
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
One species, many connections.
Also known as: American eagle, white-headed eagle
WHY IT MATTERS
One species, many connections.
It links aquatic food webs with forests and shorelines and may recycle nutrients by scavenging.
- Scientific name
- Haliaeetus leucocephalus
- Animal group
- Vertebrate · Aves
- Environment
- Air · Land · Coastal
PUBLIC-DOMAIN VISUAL RECORDS
Two additional perspectives
Together with the primary image, these records show behavior and habitat without covering the photographs with labels.
INTERACTIVE TAXONOMY
Interactive classification
Select any rank to understand what the classification means.
DID YOU KNOW?
Curiosities that reveal how it lives
Their nests can become enormous after years of reuse.
They often steal fish from other birds.
The bald eagle’s recovery became a major conservation success story in the United States.
Where it lives
Large lakes, rivers, reservoirs, estuaries, and coasts with fish and tall nesting trees.
How it lives
Primarily fish, but also waterbirds, mammals, and carrion.
Key adaptations
Powerful talons, hooked beak, exceptional vision, broad wings, and large stick nests.
Its connections
It links aquatic food webs with forests and shorelines and may recycle nutrients by scavenging.
Pressures and protection
Habitat disturbance, collisions, poisoning, lead exposure, and contaminated prey remain concerns.