The American Bald Eagle has been the US National Symbol for many years. These incredible, agile and stunning animals are known for their agility and distinctive white heads, but here are 10 other facts we thought you should know about the majestic Bald Eagle!
1. US National Symbol
The Bald Eagle has been the US National symbol and animal since 1782. This majestic predator’s fierce appearance and representation of freedom made the choice easy!
2. Perfect Scientific Name
The Bald Eagle is scientifically known as Haliaeetus leucocephalus. And in Greek, where Haliaeetus translates to “sea eagle” and leucocephalus to “white head”. Perfectly describing the bald eagle!
3. The Bald Eagle’s Habitat
Image via depositphotos
These predators usually make their homes close to large bodies of open water such as lakes, coastal regions, and rivers. An important deciding factor for the home of choice is of course the food supply in the area and safe nesting space.
4. Impressive Wingspan
The Bald Eagle has a lot of impressive qualities, but their wingspan is one of the most notable ones! As one of the largest birds in North America, their wingspan reaches between 6 to 7.5 feet – longer than most humans!
5. Bald Eagle Diet
Although these impressive hunters mostly feed on fish caught with their strong talons, they are also opportunistic feeders. Meaning that they will also eat small mammals, carrion, and other birds if they cross paths.
6. Longevity
Another impressive fact about these birds we think you should know is their long lifespan. In the wild they often live between 20 and 30 years, and in captivity even longer!
7. Massive Nests
Big birds need big nests! And this is made clear by the massive size of these Eagle’s nests. Their nests can be up to 13 feet deep and 8 feet wide – luckily they often reuse their nests so that they won’t have to build these massive homes each year!
8. Mate For Life
These large birds choose a mate and pair for life. In the sad case that one of the mates passes away, the surviving eagle will find another mate to breed with.
9. Distinctive Call
As big and impressive as the Bald Eagle is, they have rather weak and high-pitched calls. So much so, that in Hollywood movies they will often substitute the Bald Eagle’s call with that of a Red-tailed Hawk’s to add some drama!
10. Conservation Success
Bald Eagles used to be on the brink of extinction due to serious habitat loss, illegal shooting, and the effects of pesticides. Luckily, conservation efforts were a success and these majestic birds were removed from the US Endangered Species list in 2007!
Last Say On The Things You Should Know About The Bald Eagle
From the massive nests Bald Eagles build to their impressive wingspan to their conservation success, the Bald Eagle continues to impress us. We hope that you could also learn something new from this article.
If you enjoyed learning more in this article, you might enjoy these too:
- 25 Spectacular Animals Lurking in the US National Parks
- The 5 Most Bear-Infested Forests in North America
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