Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Presentation

The Latin name for the Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus, comes from the Greek als (the sea and salt), aliéus (fisherman) and aétos (eagle) referring to a sea eagle or fishing eagle, while leucocephalus refers to the white colour of the head. Its white head also leads you to think that it does not have any feathers which is why it is called the Bald Eagle. This fishing eagle is the symbol of the U.S.A. and Mexico. In the autumn and early winter, the largest gatherings of white-tailed eagles occur in Chilkat Valley where around 3,500 birds meet up to feed on the salmon which come to spawn.

First chick hatched at Le Rocher des Aigles: 1999

Characteristics

CLASS : Aves
ORDER : Accipitriformes
FAMILY : Accipitridae
WINGSPAN : 1.7 – 2.4 m
WEIGHT : 3.5 - 6 kg.
CLUTCH SIZE : 2 eggs
INCUBATION : 35 days
LIFE EXPECTANCY : 30 years
DIET : fish, mammals, reptiles and birds
NATURAL HABITAT : aquatic areas (lakes, rivers, coastal lagoons and estuaries), forests
RANGE : North America

Conservation status

Conservation status info

 
Rocher des Aigles


LC : Least Concern

The latest declines have been attributed to over-hunting, accidental poisoning (particularly the use of DDT) and the destruction of the habitat combined with the loss of large herds of bison, a major source of food depending on the season. Thanks to long-term rehabilitation measures, the population is currently on the rise.

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