Bald Eagle
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Falconiformes Family: Accipitridae Genus: Haliaeetus Species: H. The conservation status of a Species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species remaining extant either in the present day or the near future Least Concern ( LC) is an IUCN category assigned to extant species or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data List) created in 1963 is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global Chordates ( Phylum Chordata) are a group of Animals that includes the Vertebrates together with several closely related Invertebrates Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. The order Falconiformes is a group of about 290 Species of Birds that include the diurnal birds of prey. The Accipitridae is one of the two major families within the order Falconiformes (the diurnal birds of prey) A sea eagle (also called erne or ern) is any of a group of birds of prey in the Genus Haliaeetus in the Bird leucocephalus
Binomial name
Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Linnaeus, 1766)
Bald Eagle range      Resident, breeding      Summer visitor, breeding      Winter visitor      On migration only Star: accidental records
Subspecies
H. Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for In Zoology, as in other branches of Biology, subspecies is the Taxonomic rank immediately subordinate to a Species. l. leucocephalus (Linnaeus, 1766) Southern Bald Eagle H. l. washingtoniensis (Audubon, 1827) Northern Bald Eagle
Synonyms
Falco leucocephalus Linnaeus, 1766

The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a bird of prey found in North America that is most recognizable as the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. John James Audubon ( April 26 1785 – January 27 1851) was an American ornithologist, naturalist, hunter In Scientific nomenclature, synonyms are different Scientific names used for a single Taxon. Birds of prey are Birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing using their keen senses especially vision This is a list of national birds, most official but some unofficial Angola - Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus * Anguilla A national symbol is a Symbol of any entity considering itself and manifesting itself to the world as a national community – namely sovereign states, but also The United States of America —commonly referred to as the This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle. A sea eagle (also called erne or ern) is any of a group of birds of prey in the Genus Haliaeetus in the Bird In Biology, a cryptic species complex is a group of Species which satisfy the biological definition of species that is they are reproductively isolated from each The White-tailed Eagle ( Haliaeetus albicilla)also known as the Sea Eagle, Erne (sometimes Ern) or White-tailed Sea-eagle Its range includes most of Canada and Alaska, all of the contiguous United States and northern Mexico. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent The term continental United States refers to the 48 contiguous states located on the North American continent south of the border with Canada plus the District The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. It is found near large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply and old-growth trees for nesting.

The Bald Eagle is a large bird, with a body length of 71–96 centimeters (28–38 in), a wingspan of 168–244 centimeters (66–88 in), and a mass of 3–6. Eagles are large birds of prey which are members of the Bird order Falconiformes and family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera 3 kilograms (6. 6–14 lb); females are about 25 percent larger than males. ^[2] The adult Bald Eagle has a brown body with a white head and tail, and bright yellow irises, taloned feet, and a hooked beak; juveniles are completely brown except for the yellow feet. The iris consists of Pigmented Fibrovascular tissue known as a stroma. Anatomy Stegosaurus --> Beaks can vary significantly in size and shape from species to species Males and females are identical in plumage coloration. Plumage refers both to the layer of Feathers that cover a Bird and the pattern colour and arrangement of those feathers Its diet consists mainly of fish, but it is an opportunistic feeder. Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two It hunts fish by swooping down and snatching the fish out of the water with its talons. It is sexually mature at four years or five years of age. The Bald Eagle builds the largest nest of any North American bird, up to 4 meters (13 ft) deep, 2. A bird nest is the spot in which a Bird lays and incubates its eggs and raises its young 5 meters (8 ft) wide, and one tonne (1. This article is about the tonne or metric ton For other tons see Ton. 1 tons) in weight. The short ton ( S/T) is a unit of mass equal to 2000 lb (around 907 ^[2]

The species was on the brink of extirpation in the continental United States (while flourishing in much of Alaska and Canada) late in the 20th century, but now has a stable population and has been officially removed from the U.S. federal government's list of endangered species. Local extinction is where a Species (or other Taxon) ceases to exist in the chosen area of study but still exists elsewhere Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent The federal government of the United States is the central United States Governmental body established by the United States Constitution. An endangered species is a population of an organism which is at risk of becoming Extinct because it is either few in numbers or threatened by changing environmental or predation The Bald Eagle was officially reclassified from "Endangered" to "Threatened" on July 12, 1995 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Threatened species are any species (including Animals Plants fungi, etc Events 1191 - Saladin 's garrison surrenders ending the two-year Siege of Acre. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 On July 6, 1999, a proposal was initiated "To Remove the Bald Eagle in the Lower 48 States From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. Events 1044 - The Battle of Ménfő takes place 1189 - Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) The term continental United States refers to the 48 contiguous states located on the North American continent south of the border with Canada plus the District " It was delisted on June 28, 2007. Events 1098 - Fighters of the First Crusade defeat Kerbogha of Mosul. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

Contents 1 Description 2 Taxonomy 3 Habitat and range 4 Behavior 4.1 Diet 4.2 Reproduction 5 Relationship with humans 5.1 Population decline and recovery 5.2 In captivity 5.3 National bird of the United States 5.4 Role in Native American culture 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading 8.1 Identification 9 External links 9.1 Video links

Description

The plumage of an adult Bald Eagle is evenly brown with a white head and tail. Plumage refers both to the layer of Feathers that cover a Bird and the pattern colour and arrangement of those feathers The tail is moderately long and slightly wedge-shaped. Males and females are identical in plumage coloration, however females display reverse sexual dimorphism and are 25 percent larger than males. Sexual dimorphism is the systematic difference in form between individuals of different Sex in the same Species. ^[2] The beak, feet, and irises are bright yellow. The iris consists of Pigmented Fibrovascular tissue known as a stroma. The legs are unfeathered, 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 is held immobile by the front toes. ^[3] The beak is large and hooked, with a yellow cere. Anatomy Stegosaurus --> Beaks can vary significantly in size and shape from species to species Anatomy Stegosaurus --> Beaks can vary significantly in size and shape from species to species ^[4]

The plumage of the immature is brown, speckled with white until the fifth (rarely fourth, very rarely third) year, when it reaches sexual maturity. ^[2][3] Immature Bald Eagles are distinguishable from the Golden Eagle in that the former has a more protruding head with a larger bill, 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. The Golden Eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere ^[5] Also, the immature Bald Eagle has more light feathers in the upper arm area, especially around the very top of the arm.

Body length ranges from 71 to 96 cm (28–38 in). Adult females have a wingspan of up to 2. 44 m (88 in), while adult males may be as small as 1. 68 m (66 in). ^[2] Adult females weigh approximately 5. 8 kg (12. 8 lb), males weigh 4. 1 kg (9 lb). ^[6] The size of the bird varies by location; the smallest specimens are those from Florida, where an adult male may barely exceed 2. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the 3 kg (5 lb) and a wingspan of 1. 8 m (6 ft). The largest are Alaskan birds, where large females may exceed 7. 5 kg (16. 5 lb) and have a wingspan of over 2. 4 m (8 ft). ^[4]

Taxonomy

This sea eagle gets both its common and scientific names from the distinctive appearance of the adult's head. A sea eagle (also called erne or ern) is any of a group of birds of prey in the Genus Haliaeetus in the Bird Bald in the English name is derived from the word piebald, and refers to the white head and tail feathers and their contrast with the darker body. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States A piebald is an animal especially a Horse, that has a spotting pattern of large white and black patches The scientific name is derived from Haliaeetus, New Latin for "sea eagle" (from the Ancient Greek haliaetos), and leucocephalus, Latinized Ancient Greek for "white head," from λευκος leukos ("white") and κεφαλη kephale ("head"). The term New Latin or Neo-Latin is used to describe a form the Latin language used between the end of the Medieval Latin period (c The Ancient Greek language is the historical stage in the development of the Hellenic language family spanning the Archaic (c ^[7][8]

The Bald Eagle was one of the many species originally described by Linnaeus in his 18th century work Systema Naturae, under the name Falco leucocephalus. Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for The book Systema Naturae was one of the major works of the Swedish doctor of medicine Carolus Linnaeus. ^[9]

There are two recognized subspecies of Bald Eagle:^[2][10]

• H. In Zoology, as in other branches of Biology, subspecies is the Taxonomic rank immediately subordinate to a Species. l. leucocephalus (Linnaeus, 1766) is the nominate subspecies. It is separated from H. l. alascanus at approximately latitude 38° N, or roughly the latitude of San Francisco. Latitude, usually denoted symbolically by the Greek letter phi ( Φ) gives the location of a place on Earth (or other planetary body north or south of the The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city ^[11] It is found in the southern United States and Baja California. Baja California (pronounced ˈbɑːhɑː kælɨˈfɔrnjə in English is the northernmost state of Mexico. ^[12]
• H. l. washingtoniensis (Audubon, 1827), synonym H. l. alascanus Townsend, 1897, the northern subspecies, is larger than southern nominate leucocephalus. It is found in the northern United States, Canada and Alaska. ^[2][12] This subspecies reaches further south than latitude 38° N on the Atlantic Coast, where they occur in the Cape Hatteras area. The East Coast of the United States, also known as the "Eastern Seaboard" or "Atlantic Seaboard" refers to the easternmost coastal states in the central and northern Cape Hatteras is a cape on the coast of North Carolina. It is the point that protrudes the furthest to the southeast along the northeast-to-southwest line of the ^[11]

The Bald Eagle forms a species pair with the Eurasian White-tailed Eagle. In Biology, a cryptic species complex is a group of Species which satisfy the biological definition of species that is they are reproductively isolated from each For the superstate in George Orwell 's novel see Nations of Nineteen Eighty-Four. The White-tailed Eagle ( Haliaeetus albicilla)also known as the Sea Eagle, Erne (sometimes Ern) or White-tailed Sea-eagle 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 pair diverged from other Sea Eagles at the beginning of the Early Miocene (c. The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene period and extends from about 23 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. Annum is one form of the Latin noun meaning Year, not a form normally used for derivatives in modern languages the accusative singular The Oligocene is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene period and extends from about 33 A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic ^[13] The two species probably diverged in the North Pacific, as the White-tailed Eagle spread westwards into Eurasia and the Bald Eagle spread eastwards into North America. The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions ^[14]

Habitat and range

The Bald Eagle prefers habitats near seacoasts, rivers, large lakes, and other large bodies of open water with an abundance of fish. Studies have shown a preference for bodies of water with a circumference greater than 11 km (7 miles), and lakes with an area greater than 10 km² (3. 8 square miles) are optimal for breeding bald eagles. ^[15]

The Bald Eagle requires old-growth and mature stands of coniferous or hardwood trees for perching, roosting, and nesting. The term hardwood is used to describe Wood from broad-leaved angiosperm Trees mostly Deciduous, but not necessarily in the case of tropical Selected trees must have good visibility, an open structure, and proximity to prey, but the height or species of tree is not as important as an abundance of comparatively large trees surrounding the body of water. Forests used for nesting should have a canopy cover of less than 60 percent, and as low as 20 percent, and be in close proximity to water. ^[15]

The Bald Eagle is extremely sensitive to human activity, and occurs most commonly in areas free of human disturbance. It chooses sites more than 1. 2 km (0. 75 miles) from low-density human disturbance and more than 1. 8 km (1. 2 miles) from medium- to high-density human disturbance. ^[15]

The Bald Eagle's natural range covers most of North America, including most of Canada, all of the continental United States, and northern Mexico. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The term continental United States refers to the 48 contiguous states located on the North American continent south of the border with Canada plus the District The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. It is the only Sea Eagle native to only North America. The bird itself is able to live in most of North America's varied habitats from the bayous of Louisiana to the Sonoran Desert and the eastern deciduous forests of Quebec and New England. A bayou (pronounced oʊ or uː is a small slow-moving Stream or creek or a lake or pool ( bayou lake) that lies in an abandoned channel of a stream The State of Louisiana ( or, État de Louisiane, pronounced) is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America The Sonoran Desert (sometimes called the Gila Desert after the Gila River or the Low Desert in opposition to the higher Mojave Desert) is Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk History See also History of New England New England's earliest inhabitants were Algonquian -speaking Native Americans including the Northern birds are migratory, while southern birds are resident, often remaining on their breeding territory all year. Bird migration refers to the regular seasonal journeys undertaken by many species of Birds Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability The Bald Eagle previously bred throughout much of its range but at its lowest population was largely restricted to Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, northern and eastern Canada, and Florida. Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent The Aleutian Islands (possibly from Chukchi aliat, " Island " are a chain of more than 300 small volcanic islands forming a Volcanic Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the ^[16]

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 was captured in Kerry on November 15, 1987. See also Vagrancy (people for an alternative use of the term Vagrancy is a phenomenon in Biology whereby individual animals appear well Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world County Fermanagh (fɚr'mænɘ Contae Fhear Manach or Fear Manach ('Men of Monach'in Irish) is the westernmost of the six counties that form Northern Events 1055 - Theodora is crowned Empress of the Byzantine Empire. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. County Kerry ( Contae Chiarraí in Irish) is a southwestern county of Ireland. Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) ^[17] Bald Eagles will 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. Squamish ( 2006 census population 14949 is a community in the Canadian province of British Columbia, located at the north end of Vancouver (vænˈkuːvɚ is a coastal Whistler is a Resort town in the southern Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in British Columbia The birds primarily gather along the Squamish and Cheakamus Rivers, attracted by the salmon spawning in the area. The Squamish River is a short but very large River in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The Cheakamus River (pron CHEK-a-moose is a tributary of the Squamish River, beginning in Garibaldi Provincial Park upstream from Cheakamus Lake on the Salmon is the common name for several species of Fish of the family Salmonidae. ^[18]

Behavior

The Bald Eagle is a powerful flier, and soars on thermal convection currents. A thermal column (or thermal) is a column of rising Air in the lower altitudes of the Earth's atmosphere. It reaches speeds of 56–70 km/h (35–44 miles per hour) when gliding and flapping, and about 48 km/h (30 miles per hour) while carrying fish. ^[19] 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 the south or to the coast. The Bald Eagle selects migration routes which take advantage of thermals, updrafts, and food resources. A thermal column (or thermal) is a column of rising Air in the lower altitudes of the Earth's atmosphere. An updraft or downdraft ( air pocket) is the vertical movement of Air as a Weather related phenomenon During migration, it may ascend in a thermal and then glide down, or may take ascend in updrafts created by the wind against a cliff or other terrain. Migration generally takes place during the daytime, when thermals are produced by the sun. ^[3]

Bald Eagles normally squeak and have a shrill cry, punctuated by grunts. They do not make the scream that is found in films; this is usually the call of a Red-tailed Hawk, dubbed into films for dramatic effect. The Red-tailed Hawk ( Buteo jamaicensis) is a medium-sized Bird of prey, one of three species colloquially known in the United States as the "

Diet

The Bald Eagle's diet is opportunistic and varied, but most feed mainly on fish. Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two In the Pacific Northwest, spawning trout and salmon provide most of the Bald Eagles' diet. The Pacific Northwest is a region in the northwest of North America (the term refers to the land not the ocean Trout is the common name given to a number of Species of Freshwater Fish belonging to the Salmonidae family Salmon is the common name for several species of Fish of the family Salmonidae. ^[20] Locally, eagles may rely largely on carrion, especially in winter, and they will scavenge carcasses up to the size of whales, though it seems that carcasses of ungulates and large fish are preferred. Carrion (from the Latin caro, meaning meat refers to the carcass of a dead animal Whales are marine mammals which are neither Dolphins (ie members of the families Delphinidae or Platanistoidae) nor Porpoises Orcas Ungulates (meaning roughly "being Hoofed quot or "hoofed animal" are several groups of Mammals most of which use the tips of their toes usually Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two They also may sometimes feed on subsistence scavenged or stolen from campsites and picnics, as well as garbage dumps. Mammalian prey includes rabbits, hares, raccoons, muskrats, beavers, sea otters, and deer fawns. Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands Rabbits are small Mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world Hares and jackrabbits are Leporids belonging to the Genus Lepus. The raccoon ( Procyon lotor) (sometimes spelt as racoon) also known as the common raccoon, North American raccoon, northern raccoon The muskrat ( Ondatra zibethicus) the only Species in Genus Ondatra, is a medium-sized semi-aquatic Rodent native to North America Beavers are two primarily nocturnal semi-aquatic species of Rodent, one native to North America and one to Europe The sea otter ( Enhydra lutris) is a Marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. A deer is a Ruminant Mammal belonging to the family Cervidae. A deer is a Ruminant Mammal belonging to the family Cervidae. Preferred avian prey includes grebes, alcids, ducks, gulls, coots, egrets and geese. Grebes are members of the Podicipediformes order, a widely distributed order of freshwater diving birds some of which visit the sea when migrating This article is about a family of birds For the American ornithological journal see The Auk. For duck as a food see Duck (food; for other meanings see Duck (disambiguation. Gulls (often informally Seagulls) are birds in the family Laridae Coots, are medium-sized water birds which are members of the rail family Rallidae. This is an article about a type of bird For the EGRET satellite mission see Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope. Goose (plural geese) is the English name for a considerable number of Birds belonging to the family Anatidae. Most live prey are quite a bit smaller than the eagle, but predatory attacks on large birds such as the Great Blue Heron and even swans have been recorded. The Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias, is a wading Bird in the Heron family Ardeidae, common over most of North and Central Swans are Birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and Ducks Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in Reptiles, amphibians and crustaceans (especially crabs) are preyed on when available. Reptiles, or members of the class Reptilia are air-breathing Cold-blooded Vertebrates that have skin covered in scales as opposed to hair or feathers Prehistoric amphibian Amphibians (class Amphibia such as Frogs Toads Salamanders Newts Gymnophiona, Sirens and Structure of crustaceans As Arthropods crustaceans have a stiff Exoskeleton, which must be shed to allow the animal to grow ( Ecdysis or molting Crabs are decapod Crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" (βραχύ / brachy

To hunt fish, easily their most important live prey, the eagle swoops down over the water and snatches the fish out of the water with its talons. A claw is a curved pointed appendage found at the end of a toe or finger in most Mammals, Birds, and some Reptiles. They eat by holding the fish in one claw and tearing the flesh with the other. Eagles have structures on their toes called spiricules that allow them to grasp fish. Osprey also have this adaptation. The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus, also called Sea Hawk, is a diurnal, fish-eating Bird of prey. ^[19] Bald Eagles have powerful talons.

Sometimes, if the fish is too heavy to lift, the eagle will be dragged into the water. It may swim to safety, but some eagles drown or succumb to hypothermia. Hypothermia is a condition in which an organism's temperature drops below that required for normal Metabolism and bodily functions When competing for food, eagles will usually dominate other fish-eaters and scavengers, aggressively displacing mammals such as coyotes and foxes, and birds such as corvids, gulls, vultures and other raptors. Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands The coyote (kaɪˈoʊti ˈkaɪoʊt ( Canis latrans) also known as the prairie wolf, is a Mammal of the order Carnivora A fox is an Animal belonging to any one of about 27 Species (of which only 12 actually belong to the Vulpes genus or 'true foxes' of small Corvidae is a cosmopolitan family of Oscine Passerine Birds that contains the Crows Ravens rooks Gulls (often informally Seagulls) are birds in the family Laridae Vultures are scavenging Birds feeding mostly on the carcasses of dead Animals Vultures are found on every continent except Antarctica and Birds of prey are Birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing using their keen senses especially vision Bald Eagles may be displaced by or themselves displace Golden Eagles, with neither species known to be dominant. The Golden Eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere Occasionally, Bald Eagles will steal fish away from smaller raptors, such as Ospreys, a practice known as kleptoparasitism. The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus, also called Sea Hawk, is a diurnal, fish-eating Bird of prey. Kleptoparasitism or cleptoparasitism (literally Parasitism by Theft) is a form of Feeding where one animal takes Prey from another ^[21]

Reproduction

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. It is thought that Bald Eagles mate for life. However, if one member of a pair dies or disappears, the other will choose a new mate. A pair which has repeatedly failed in breeding attempts may split and look for new mates. ^[22] Bald Eagle courtship involves elaborate calls and flight displays. The flight includes swoops, chases, and cartwheels, in which they fly high, lock talons, and free fall, separating just before hitting the ground. ^[23]

The nest is the largest of any bird in North America; it is used repeatedly over many years and with new material added each year may eventually be as large as 4 meters (13 ft) deep, 2. 5 meters (8 ft) across and weigh one tonne (1. This article is about the tonne or metric ton For other tons see Ton. 1 tons);^[2] one nest in Florida was found to be 6. The short ton ( S/T) is a unit of mass equal to 2000 lb (around 907 1 meters deep (20 ft), 2. 9 meters (9. 5 ft) across, and to weigh 2. 722 tonnes (3 tons). The short ton ( S/T) is a unit of mass equal to 2000 lb (around 907 ^[24] The nest is built out of branches, usually in large trees near water. When breeding where there are no trees, the Bald Eagle will nest on the ground. Eagles produce between one and three eggs per year, but it is rare for all three chicks to successfully fly. Both the male and female take turns incubating the eggs. The other parent will hunt for food or look for nesting material. The eggs average about 7. 3 centimeters (2. 9 in) long and have a breadth of 5. 5 centimeters (2. 2 in). ^[19]

The incubation period averages at about 35 days and the parents will brood their offspring until they are about four weeks of age. The fledging stage can occur at any time from 70 to 92 days, the wide variation dictated by the effects of sex and hatching order on growth and development. Egg and nestling predation may be committed by Black-billed Magpies, gulls, ravens and crows, black bears and raccoons. The Black-billed Magpie is a bird in the crow family that inhabits the western half of North America, from Central Western British Columbia to Southern Gulls (often informally Seagulls) are birds in the family Laridae Raven is the common name given to the largest species of Passerine Birds in the Genus Corvus. The true crows are large Passerine Birds that comprise the Genus Corvus in the family Corvidae. The American Black Bear ( Ursus americanus) is the most common Bear Species native to North America. The raccoon ( Procyon lotor) (sometimes spelt as racoon) also known as the common raccoon, North American raccoon, northern raccoon With no known predators themselves, adults will fiercely defend their offspring from these species.

Relationship with humans

Population decline and recovery

Once a common sight in much of the continent, the Bald Eagle was severely affected in the mid-20th century by a variety of factors, among them thinning of egg shells, attributed to the use of the pesticide DDT. DDT (from its trivial name D ichloro- D iphenyl- T richloroethane is one of the best known synthetic Pesticides It is a chemical with a long ^[25] Bald Eagles, like many birds of prey, were especially affected by DDT due to biomagnification. Biomagnification, also known as bioamplification, or biological magnification is the increase in concentration of a substance such as the Pesticide DDT itself was not lethal to the adult bird, but it interfered with the bird's calcium metabolism, making the bird either sterile or unable to lay healthy eggs. Calcium (ˈkælsiəm is the Chemical element with the symbol Ca and Atomic number 20 Female eagles laid eggs that were too brittle to withstand the weight of a brooding adult, making it nearly impossible to produce young. ^[16] It's estimated that in the early 1700s, the bald eagle population was 300,000–500,000,^[26] but by the 1950s there were only 412 nesting pairs in the 48 contiguous states of the US. The term continental United States refers to the 48 contiguous states located on the North American continent south of the border with Canada plus the District Other factors in Bald Eagle population reductions were a widespread loss of suitable habitat, and illegal shooting, which was described as "the leading cause of direct mortality in both adult and immature bald eagles," according to a 1978 report in the Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. In 1984, the National Wildlife Federation listed hunting, power line electrocution, and collisions in flight as the leading causes of eagle deaths. Bald Eagle populations have also been negatively affected by oil, lead, and mercury pollution, and by human and predator intrusion. ^[27]

The species was first protected in the U. S. and Canada by the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty, later extended to all of North America. Under United States Code Title 16 Chapter 7 Subchapter II the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 is the United States legislation implementing the convention between the U The 1940 Bald Eagle Protection Act in the U. S. , which protected the Bald Eagle and the Golden Eagle, prohibited commercial trapping and killing of the birds. The Golden Eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere The Bald Eagle was declared an endangered species in the U. S. in 1967, and amendments to the 1940 act between 1962 and 1972 further restricted commercial uses and increased penalties for violators. Also in 1972, DDT was banned in the United States. ^[28] DDT was completely banned in Canada in 1989, though its use had been highly restricted since the late 1970s. ^[29]

With regulations in place and DDT banned, the eagle population rebounded. The Bald Eagle can be found in growing concentrations throughout the United States and Canada, particularly near large bodies of water. In the early 1980s, the estimated total population was 100,000 birds, with 110,000–115,000 by 1992;^[2] the U.S. state with the largest resident population is Alaska, with about 40,000–50,000 birds, with the next highest population being the Canadian province of British Columbia with 20,000–30,000 birds in 1992. A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second largest country in total area. British Columbia (ˌbrɪtɨʃ kəˈlʌmbiə ( BC) ( (la Colombie-Britannique C ^[2]

It was officially removed from the U. S. federal government's list of endangered species on July 12, 1995 by the U. Events 1191 - Saladin 's garrison surrenders ending the two-year Siege of Acre. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 S. Fish & Wildlife Service, when it was reclassified from "Endangered" to "Threatened. " On July 6, 1999, a proposal was initiated "To Remove the Bald Eagle in the Lower 48 States From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. Events 1044 - The Battle of Ménfő takes place 1189 - Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) " It was delisted on June 28, 2007. Events 1098 - Fighters of the First Crusade defeat Kerbogha of Mosul. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[30] It has also been assigned a risk level of Least Concern category on the IUCN Red List. Least Concern ( LC) is an IUCN category assigned to extant species or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data List) created in 1963 is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global ^[31]

In captivity

Permits are required to keep Bald Eagles in captivity in the United States. Permits are primarily issued to public educational institutions, and the eagles which they show are permanently injured individuals which cannot be released to the wild. The facilities where eagles are kept must be equipped with adequate caging and facilities, as well as workers experienced in the handling and care of eagles. Bald Eagles cannot legally be kept for falconry in the United States. As a rule, the Bald Eagle is a poor choice for public shows, being timid, prone to becoming highly stressed, and unpredictable in nature. Native American Tribes can obtain a "Native American Religious Use" permit to keep non-releasable eagles as well. They use their naturally molted feathers for religious and cultural ceremonies. The Bald Eagle can be long-lived in captivity if well cared for, but does not breed well even under the best conditions. ^[32] In Canada, a license is required to keep Bald Eagles for falconry. Falconry or hawking is an Art or Sport which involves the use of trained raptors (birds of prey to hunt or pursue game for humans ^[33]

National bird of the United States

The Bald Eagle is the national bird of the United States of America. This is a list of national birds, most official but some unofficial Angola - Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus * Anguilla It is one of the country's most recognizable symbols, and appears on most of its official seals, including the Seal of the President of the United States. The Seal of the President of the United States is the official arms of the U

The Continental Congress adopted the current design for the Great Seal of the United States including a Bald Eagle grasping thirteen arrows and a thirteen-leaf olive branch with its talons on June 20, 1782. The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the The Great Seal of the United States is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the United States federal government. An arrow is a pointed Projectile that is shot with a bow. It predates recorded history and is common to most Cultures. The olive branch is a Branch of an Olive tree In Western culture, derived from the customs of Ancient Greece, it symbolizes peace or goodwill Events 451 - Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius ' defeats Attila the Hun. Year 1782 ( MDCCLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common ^[34]

After the end of the Revolutionary War, Benjamin Franklin wrote a famous letter from Paris in 1784, to his daughter, criticizing the choice and suggesting the Wild Turkey as a better representative of American qualities. In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" Benjamin Franklin ( April 17 1790 was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city The Wild Turkey ( Meleagris gallopavo) is native to North America and is the heaviest member of the Galliformes. He described the Bald Eagle as "a Bird of bad moral character," who, "too lazy to fish for himself" survived by robbing the Osprey. The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus, also called Sea Hawk, is a diurnal, fish-eating Bird of prey. He called the Bald Eagle "a rank Coward" easily driven from a perch by the much smaller kingbird. The genus Tyrannus is a group of large insect-eating Birds in the Tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae In the letter, Franklin wrote the Turkey is, "a much more respectable Bird," which he described as "a little vain & silly [but] a Bird of Courage. "^[34]

The Bald Eagle remained the emblem of the United States. It can be found on both national seals and on the back of several coins (including the quarter dollar coin until 1999), with its head oriented towards the olive branch. A quarter dollar is a coin worth 1/4 of a United States dollar, or 25 cents. Between 1916 and 1945, the Presidential Flag showed an eagle facing to its left (the viewer's right), which gave rise to the urban legend that the seal is changed to have the eagle face towards the olive branch in peace, and towards the arrows in wartime. An urban legend or urban myth is a form of modern Folklore consisting of stories thought to be factual by those circulating them ^[35]

Role in Native American culture

The Bald Eagle is a sacred bird in some North American cultures, and its feathers, like those of the Golden Eagle, are central to many religious and spiritual customs among Native Americans. The Golden Eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere Like other religions Native American belief systems include many sacred narratives For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. Eagles are considered spiritual messengers between gods and humans by some cultures. ^[36] Many pow wow dancers use the eagle claw as part of their regalia as well. Eagle feathers are often used in traditional ceremonies, particularly in the construction of regalia worn and as a part of fans, bustles and head dresses. The Lakota, for instance, give an eagle feather as a symbol of honor to person who achieves a task. The Lakota (laˈkˣota (also Teton, Tetonwan) are a Native American tribe In modern times, it may be given on an event such as a graduation from college. ^[37] The Pawnee considered eagles as symbols of fertility because their nests are built high off the ground and because they fiercely protect their young. The Pawnee (also Paneassa, Pari, Pariki) are a Native American tribe that historically lived along the Platte, Loup and The Kwakwaka'wakw scattered eagle down to welcome important guests. The Kwakwaka'wakw (also Kwakiutl) are an Indigenous nation numbering about 5500 who live in British Columbia on northern Vancouver Island ^[38]

During the Sun Dance, which is practiced by many Plains Indian tribes, the eagle is represented in several ways. The Sun Dance is a Ceremony practiced by a number of Native Americans The Plains Indians are the Indigenous peoples who live on the plains and rolling hills of the Great Plains of North America. The eagle nest is represented by the fork of the lodge where the dance is held. A whistle made from the wing bone of an eagle is used during the course of the dance. Also during the dance, a medicine man may direct his fan, which is made of eagle feathers, to people who seek to be healed. " Medicine man " is an English term used to describe Native American spiritual figures such individuals are often viewed by scholars concerned with these The medicine man touches the fan to the center pole and then to the patient, in order to transmit power from the pole to the patient. The fan is then held up toward the sky, so that the eagle may carry the prayers for the sick to the Creator. ^[39]

Current eagle feather law stipulates that only individuals of certifiable Native American ancestry enrolled in a federally recognized tribe are legally authorized to obtain Bald or Golden Eagle feathers for religious or spiritual use. In the United States, there are a number of federal wildlife laws pertaining to Eagles and their feathers (e The constitutionality of these laws has been questioned by Native American groups on the basis that it violates the First Amendment by affecting ability to practice their religion freely. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the United States Bill of Rights that expressly prohibits the United States Congress ^[40] Additionally, only members of federally recognized tribes are legally allowed to possess eagle feathers, preventing non-federally recognized tribe members from practicing religion freely. The laws have also been criticized on grounds of racial preferences and infringements on tribal sovereignty. Tribal sovereignty refers to the inherent authority of indigenous tribes to govern themselves ^[41]

See also

• List of national birds

References

National Geographic:Bald Eagle

Further reading

Identification

• Grant, Peter J. (1988) The Co. Peter James Grant ( 1943 - April 16, 1990) was a British Ornithologist. Kerry Bald Eagle Twitching 1(12): 379-80 - describes plumage differences between Bald Eagle and White-tailed Eagle in juvenile plumage

External links

• Bald Eagle Facts and Photos - NatureMapping Program
• National Eagle Center
• Cascades Raptor Center. Birding World is a monthly birding journal published in the United Kingdom.
• American Bald Eagle Information
• The Fall and Rise of the Bald Eagle

Video links

• Fledging Season 2007: Various Wild Bald Eagle Nests
• Wild Bald Eagle Eats Live Crab: Close Up
• Live video of a Bald Eagle nest on Santa Cruz Island.
• Video of Bald Eagles on the Internet Bird Collection

---

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic