All birds are pretty amazing creatures. Watching them soar through the air just fills you with a sense of freedom and grace.
The bald eagle is one of the most amazing birds to see in person. They are sizable birds of prey with impressive beaks and talons. They have a very powerful appearance, and when you see the full wingspan in use, it’s truly incredible.
The bald eagle became the United States’ national emblem in 1782, narrowly beating out Ben Franklin’s choice of the turkey. Don’t get me wrong — turkeys are great, but I think our founding fathers made the right choice.
But, what do you know about the bald eagle other than its powerful image and status as the symbol of freedom? I knew zilch before looking into these amazing creatures, and I have to tell you that they’re quite the interesting feathered friends. They can be sneaky, they can be daredevils, and they can be very, very clever.
1. They Aren’t Actually Bald
“Bald” refers to an earlier usage meaning “white-headed.” Bald eagles aren’t lacking feathers on their head; rather, they have a signature white-feathered top. However, young bald eagles don’t have the white plumage on their heads — that grows out later in life.
2. They Play A Fearsome Game Of Chicken
You know that dangerous game where you run or drive toward each other to see who chickens out and avoids collision first? Bald eagles do something like this.
Two eagles will lock talons mid-air and plummet toward the ground. They will usually break free before they make contact with the earth, but occasionally they can be very stubborn and end up taking quite the tumble. Scientists aren’t entirely sure why bald eagles do this, but it’s potentially part of a mating ritual or a territory battle.
3. Females Are Bigger Than Males
Females’ bodies are approximately 35 to 37 inches long, with a wingspan reaching 90 inches. Males are a few inches smaller all around, ranging from about 30 to 34 inches long with a wingspan of up to 85 inches.
4. They Are Considered Raptors
All birds of prey are biologically classified as raptors, but I think this tidbit of information is really cool. Why? Because birds are just about the closest relatives to dinosaurs left on earth. Bald eagles, our country’s emblem, are thought to be very distant relatives of dinosaurs, and that is reflected in their categorization as raptors. That’s pretty gosh darn cool!
5. Sometimes, They Swim
This is not for fun or because they are trying to show off that they can dwell in both sky and water. Instead, they end up in the water when they catch a fish that’s too hefty to carry away. Bald eagles are able to use their wings to paddle their hollow-boned, lightweight bodies to shore when they have a fat fish in their talons.
6. Their Nests Are Huge
Bald eagle nests are usually two to four feet deep and about five feet wide, which is already very impressive: that’s as wide as a preteen is tall. The Guinness World Record for the largest bird nest is held by a bald eagle that built a 20-foot-deep nest spanning nine-and-a-half-feet wide.
That is literally bonkers. Why did they need a nest so big? Who knows, but those birds in St. Petersburg, Florida, must have been living large.
7. They Can Live For 50 Years
Adolescent bald eagles get their signature white-plumage pattern five years after hatching. Once their heads have turned white, it’s very hard to accurately age them. However, they can live approximately 20 years in the wild, and up to 50 in captivity with access to veterinary care, a healthy diet, and controlled conditions.
8. It Takes 35 Days For The Eggs To Hatch
After the eggs hatch and the eaglets are born, it will take another 10 to 12 weeks until they use their little wings to fly from the nest.
9. They Only Live In North America
Bald eagles aren’t found on any other continent besides North America. They range from Alaska through Canada and the U.S., with a few also residing in Mexico. This makes it fitting that the bald eagle is the national emblem of the U.S.
10. Some Eat Fish For 90 Percent Of Their Diet
The amount of fish an eagle consumes will vary depending on where it lives, though it will always make up the majority of its diet. Bald eagles in Oregon eat a diet that is 90 percent fish! Sometimes they steal it from other birds, while other times they catch it themselves.
They will also snack on animals such as rabbits and various amphibians to round out their diet.
11. They Mate For Life
Bald eagles are known for staying with the same partner for life. They even share parenting duties, including incubating eggs. That’s pretty darn cool.
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