Photo: michael_eitland / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) — Birds of Prey of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in North America. Adults weigh 4.7 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Haliaeetus
- Species leucocephalus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4.7 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Male vs female
Sexes look alike in plumage; females average about 25% larger.
Juvenile appearance
Juveniles/immatures are mostly dark brown all over with irregular whitish mottling on the wings and body, not attaining the clean white head and tail until about 5 years old.
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Bald Eagle is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Bald Eagle is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) belongs to the Accipitridae family of the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans North America. Its distribution covers NA widespread, also nw Mexico.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 4.7 kg, with a wing length of about 60.2 cm and a tail of around 29.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 9.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Bald Eagle?
The Bald Eagle is a very large bird that weighs around 4.7 kg.
Where does the Bald Eagle live?
The Bald Eagle is found across North America with a range covering NA widespread, also nw Mexico, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Bald Eagle belong to?
The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Bald Eagle eat?
The Bald Eagle is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Bald Eagle migrate?
The Bald Eagle is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Bald Eagle endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Bald Eagle make?
1 real field recording of the Bald Eagle — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Bald Eagle's range?
The Bald Eagle has a mapped global range of about 9.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Bald Eagle vs Golden Eagle: How to Tell Them Apart
How to tell a Bald Eagle from a Golden Eagle — size, range, family and status compared side by side, with links to each bird’s full ID guide.
Osprey vs Bald Eagle: How to Tell Them Apart
How to tell a Osprey from a Bald Eagle — size, range, family and status compared side by side, with links to each bird’s full ID guide.
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.