The Bald Eagle is the National Bird of the United States of America.  Here are 8 facts about this iconic bird that has been a symbol of the USA for over 200 years.

As a kid I growing up in Southern California I never saw a bald eagle until I was an adult living in Colorado in the early 1990s.  I was out on a field at the daycare I worked at and just froze when I saw one soaring around in the sky.  Since then I have come across bald eagles many times.  Every time I see one of these big birds is special and memorable.  Here are some cool facts about this bird of prey to help you better appreciate them.

8 Bald Eagle Facts

This is a large raptor, or bird of prey that is native to North America.  In fact, this is one of the biggest raptors in the world with a wingspan of 7 feet!

These eagles are opportunistic feeders.  Basically that means they are not picky eaters and will eat whatever they come across.  They eat lots of fish, but also spend a lot of time scavenging (eating scraps of meat off carcasess).  In addition to their scavenging, they also catch and eat small mammals and birds such as gulls and rabbits or they’ll even steal other food from other birds.

The bald eagle has been the national symbol and emblem of the United States of America since 1782.  Despite that recognition they were often hunted or shot by early European settlers who saw them as competition for game and as a threat to wildlife.  On top of that a common pesticide used by people, DDT, was found to be harmful to their eggs.  The birds population had dwindled to only several hundred at that point.  That awareness led to more protection and people helped them recover to the point that they are now more common with a larger population.

Generally, at around 4 or 5 years of age the birds will pick a mate and stay together for life.  That can be along time as these birds live for 20 years or more.  They work together to build a nest and to raise their young.  They take turns incubating the eggs and feeding the baby birds.

Speaking of nests, their nests are vey big. If they have a good nest they will reuse it year after year, adding to it each year.  Over time the nest can grow to huge sizes.  An average bald eagle nest measures 5 feet in diameter by 2-3 feet deep!

Bald eagles can be found from the Rockies up into Canada and Alaska, most often near bodies of water.  Surprisingly, at least for me who grew up in the 70s when bald eagles were rare, they now nest in every state of the US except for Hawaii.

Some of the birds will migrate south during the cold Canadian winters to stay in warmer areas in the lower 48 states.  However, some will stay put all year long.  Their migration pattern varies based on where they live, but in general they will migrate to warmer areas with large rivers or water that will remain ice free all winter, providing a good source of food.

These birds live solitary lives for the most part.  But, at some times if there is lots of food available they may gather near other bald eagles with up to 400 individuals seen in one area before.