Fun Facts About the Bald Eagle

1. Bald Eagles Aren't Actually Bald

Whether depicted on the back of a U.S. quarter or standing high above the ground in a treetop, the Bald Eagle is one of the most instantly recognizable birds on Earth. These large and powerful birds of prey inhabit coastlines, lakes, rivers, and other waterways throughout North America. They build enormous nests, raise their young in them, and occupy the top levels of the food chain within their territories.

The Bald Eagle has long been associated with the United States and has become one of the country's most recognizable national symbols. Yet these impressive raptors also have some unexpected habits, from their dramatic courtship flights to their willingness to search for food around landfills. Here are several interesting facts about this iconic American bird, including one surprising detail about the sound it makes.

The name “Bald Eagle” can be misleading because the bird is certainly not without feathers on its head. Adults have bright white feathers covering their heads, creating a sharp contrast with their dark brown bodies. The name probably originated with early British settlers in North America during the late 1500s. At the time, the Middle English word “balde” meant “white-headed” rather than hairless. Even the scientific name, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, can be translated as “white-headed sea eagle.”

2. Bald Eagles Are Native Only to North America

The Bald Eagle is the only eagle species whose natural range is entirely within North America. Its distribution stretches from Canada southward to northern Mexico. These birds have been recorded in every U.S. state except Hawaii.

Bald Eagles commonly establish nests high in forest trees close to large bodies of water. This location gives them an excellent view of the surrounding landscape while keeping them near productive feeding areas. Some individuals remain in the same region throughout the year, while others migrate, spending the warmer months in Canada and moving into the Lower 48 states during winter.

3. The Bald Eagle Became the U.S. National Bird in 2024

The Bald Eagle's distinctive appearance helped inspire the Second Continental Congress to select it as the national symbol of the United States in 1782. Since then, the bird has appeared repeatedly in American imagery, including on currency, passports, military insignia, flags, and other symbols of the country.

However, there is an important distinction between being the national symbol and officially being the national bird. The Bald Eagle was formally designated as the national bird of the United States on December 24, 2024, when President Joe Biden signed the measure into law.

4. Bald Eagles Sometimes Steal Food

Despite their impressive appearance and reputation as powerful hunters, Bald Eagles are not always interested in catching their own meals. They are opportunistic feeders and will sometimes take advantage of another animal's successful hunt.

One of their well-known behaviors involves harassing Ospreys and other birds that have caught fish. The Bald Eagle may chase the hunter in the air until the exhausted bird drops its prey. The eagle then swoops in and claims the food for itself.

Bald Eagles are also perfectly willing to eat food they find rather than catch. They may search for scraps around landfills and sewage treatment facilities, demonstrating just how adaptable their feeding habits can be.

5. Bald Eagle Populations Recovered Dramatically

During the middle of the 20th century, Bald Eagle numbers in the United States fell sharply because of hunting, habitat destruction, and exposure to pesticides. By 1976, only about 400 nesting pairs remained in the continental United States.

One major factor behind the decline was DDT. This pesticide interfered with the birds' ability to produce strong eggshells, resulting in eggs that were easily broken during incubation. DDT was banned in the United States in 1972, and the Endangered Species Act followed in 1973.

The Bald Eagle population subsequently began a remarkable recovery. By 2021, an estimated 316,000 individuals were living in the United States. The species' return from the brink of disappearance is widely regarded as a major conservation achievement in the country.

6. Bald Eagle Courtship Can Look Extremely Dramatic

Bald Eagles generally form long-term pair bonds and often mate for life. Their courtship behavior can be remarkably intense.

After attracting one another through calls and beginning to build a nest, a male and female may perform an aerial display known as a cartwheel. The pair rises into the sky, grabs onto each other's talons, and then tumbles downward while spinning toward the ground. At the last moment, they release their grip and separate before reaching the ground.

After completing this dramatic maneuver, the pair may return to their nest, where mating takes place.

7. Bald Eagles Build Enormous Nests

Bald Eagles are famous for constructing extraordinarily large nests. They hold the Guinness World Record for the largest bird nest ever recorded.

Their nests are constructed from materials such as thick branches, plant stems, seaweed, and other natural materials. A typical nest may measure around five to six feet across and two to four feet high, although its exact dimensions depend partly on the shape and structure of the supporting tree.

The record-setting nest was discovered in St. Petersburg, Florida. It measured approximately 10 feet across and 20 feet high and weighed more than two tons.

When suitable trees are limited or when too many eagle pairs compete for available nesting trees, Bald Eagles may occasionally build their nests directly on the ground.

8. Bald Eagles Can Swim

Bald Eagles are often seen soaring, gliding, or diving through the air, but they are also capable swimmers. Swimming is not their normal way of getting around, yet it can become useful when an eagle catches a particularly large fish.

If a fish is too heavy to carry through the air, the eagle may remain in the water and paddle toward shore instead. Using its wings in a motion somewhat resembling a butterfly stroke, the bird can move through the water while holding onto its catch.

9. Bald Eagles Face Several Human-Related Threats

Bald Eagles are apex predators and can live for roughly 25 years in the wild and as long as 50 years in captivity. However, human-related dangers can significantly shorten their lives.

The oldest documented wild Bald Eagle was 38 years old when it died after being hit by a vehicle in Henrietta, New York. Other threats include becoming caught on power lines, ingesting toxic substances such as lead, and colliding with wind turbines.

Although the Bald Eagle was removed from the federal endangered species list in 2007, it continues to receive legal protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

10. The Famous Bald Eagle Cry Usually Isn't a Bald Eagle

The next time a movie or television program features a Bald Eagle producing a powerful, dramatic screech, listen carefully. The sound may not actually belong to a Bald Eagle.

In reality, Bald Eagles produce relatively soft, high-pitched calls. Hollywood productions, television programs, and commercials have frequently replaced these sounds with the call of a Red-tailed Hawk.

Red-tailed Hawks produce a long, sharp, piercing scream that sounds far more dramatic and intimidating. Because of this distinctive call, their voices have become a familiar substitute for the Bald Eagle in film and television.