American Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Not Evaluated ↑

Diet

Carnivore

Lifespan

28 years

Length

90 cm

Weight

5.0 kg

Population

316.7K

Trend

↑ Increasing

About

The national bird of the United States and a symbol of American conservation success, bald eagles have a wingspan of up to 2.4 meters and inhabit forests and wetlands near open water across North America. Powerful aerial predators and scavengers, they specialize in fish but also take waterfowl and carrion. Nearly extinct by the 1960s due to DDT poisoning and hunting, the bald eagle recovered dramatically following pesticide bans and the Endangered Species Act.

Fun Facts

✨ Bald eagle nests can weigh up to 1 ton.
✨ They can see fish from over a mile away.
✨ They mate for life.

Habitat & Distribution

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 10 distinct biome types spanning the Neotropic and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

🌲 Forest 🌋 Marine Coastal/Supratidal 💧 Wetlands (Inland)

Widely distributed across Europe (8 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Ecuador).

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇪🇨 Ecuador 🇫🇷 France 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇱 Poland 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇺🇸 United States

Diet & Behavior

🥩

Carnivore

American Bald Eagle is classified as carnivore, adapted to its ecological niche.

Diet

🥩 Carnivore

Animal matter 100%

Full Taxonomy

Accipitriformes (Hawks & Eagles)

Family

Accipitridae (Hawks & Eagles)

Genus

Haliaeetus (Sea Eagles)

Species

Haliaeetus leucocephalus (American Bald Eagle)

Names in Other Languages

Japanese ハクトウワシ

Chinese 白头海雕

Spanish Águila cabeza blanca

French Pygargue à tête blanche

German Weißkopf-Seeadler

Portuguese pigargo-americano

Russian Белоголовый орлан

Similar Species in Haliaeetus

Gray-headed Fish-Eagle

Haliaeetus ichthyaetus

Madagascar Fish-Eagle

Haliaeetus vociferoides

Critically Endangered

🦅

Pallas's Fish-Eagle

Haliaeetus leucoryphus

White-bellied Sea-Eagle

Haliaeetus leucogaster

Least Concern

View all species in Haliaeetus →

Explore More

Marine Coastal/Supratidal

Compare Species

vs African Fish-Eagle vs Gray-headed Fish-Eagle vs Lesser Fish-Eagle vs Madagascar Fish-Eagle

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scientific name of American Bald Eagle?

The scientific name of American Bald Eagle is Haliaeetus leucocephalus. It belongs to the genus Haliaeetus.

Where does American Bald Eagle live?

American Bald Eagle is found in Widely distributed across Europe (8 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Ecuador).. Countries include Belgium, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States.

What family does American Bald Eagle belong to?

American Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) belongs to the genus Haliaeetus, which is part of the taxonomic family Accipitridae.

What does American Bald Eagle eat?

American Bald Eagle is carnivore. Its diet is adapted to its natural habitat and ecological niche.

How long does American Bald Eagle live?

American Bald Eagle has an average lifespan of approximately 28 years in the wild.

How many American Bald Eagle are left in the wild?

The estimated wild population of American Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is approximately 316,700 individuals.

What kingdom does American Bald Eagle belong to?

American Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) belongs to the kingdom Animalia (Animals).

What are the closest relatives of American Bald Eagle?

The closest relatives of American Bald Eagle in the genus Haliaeetus include African Fish-Eagle, Gray-headed Fish-Eagle, Lesser Fish-Eagle, Madagascar Fish-Eagle, Pallas's Fish-Eagle.