Bald Eagle

Bald eagles are meat-eating birds that primarily feed on fish. However, they also eat small mammals, birds, and carrion. They are skilled hunters and can dive at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour to catch prey. They are opportunistic and often harass smaller raptors to steal their catch.

At the Zoo, the resident eagles are fed a diet consisting of fish, rats, and quail. In addition to this, they receive additional food enrichment, such as smelt and liver.

This species is found throughout North America, from Alaska and Canada to northern Mexico.

Bald eagles inhabit forests, wetlands, and coastlines, and require adequate nest trees, roosts, and feeding grounds. However, they are rarely found far from water.

The eggs and young of bald eagles are prey for some opportunistic birds, raccoons, wolverines, arctic foxes, black bears, and bobcats.

Eagles are at the top of the food chain, making them more vulnerable to environmental toxic chemicals. One such chemical is DDT, used to control insects in the past and caused the bald eagle to be listed as endangered in 1967. When DDT entered natural water systems, it was consumed by fish, a major food source for eagles. This led to eagles becoming sterile due to the toxicity or laying brittle eggs that would be crushed under the weight of the incubating eagle. Thanks to conservation efforts and protective legislation, eagle populations have since recovered.

However, current threats to the bald eagle population include lead poisoning from buckshot left in carcasses by hunters, as well as collisions with man-made structures like power lines. As with nearly all animals, habitat degradation and loss also have negative effects on bald eagle populations.

Bald eagles are one of the most recognizable species in North America, with white feathers that cover their head and neck in contrast to their dark brown body. Adult eagles have this distinctive white head, while juvenile eagles have mottled brown plumage. They acquire white head and neck feathers by the time they reach maturity at about four or five years of age. The yellow eyes, beak, and feet accent the two-tone plumage of the bird.

The eagle's legs are feathered halfway down, ending in short and powerful grasping toes and long talons. These talons have a locking mechanism that allows them to grasp prey securely. The talons close instantly and cannot be opened again until the eagle pushes down on a solid surface. The bald eagle's wingspan can reach almost seven feet across! The shape of the feathers at the end of their wings helps the bird soar over long distances. Eagles have excellent vision, like other raptors. They have two foveae, or centers of focus, that allow them to see both forward and to the side simultaneously. Their eyes are almost as large as a human’s, but their sharpness is at least four times that of a person with perfect vision. Eagles have eyelids that close during sleep, and they also have an inner eyelid called a “nictitating membrane” that helps them blink. Every three or four seconds, the nictitating membrane slides across the eye from front to back, wiping dirt and dust from the cornea. Because the membrane is translucent, the eagle can see even while it is over the eye.

Bald eagles reach breeding age between three to four years old. The breeding season can vary depending on the region. In Ohio, the breeding season occurs between late January to February. In the southern states, it may last from late September through November, and in the Great Plains and Mountain West regions, it may last from January through March. In Alaska, it occurs from late March to early April.

Bald eagles are known to mate for life and typically build large nests in tall trees near bodies of water. They often return to the same nest each year and add to it over time. This results in nests that can weigh up to two tons and span nine feet across! The female eagle lays one to three eggs each year, and both parents take turns incubating the eggs for about 35 days. The male also assists the female with nest building, incubation, and rearing of the eaglets.

When the chicks hatch, they are covered in gray downy feathers and are completely dependent on their parents for food and protection. The eaglets remain in the nest until they are between 10 to 12 weeks old. During the fledgling period, which lasts for four to eight weeks, they will remain in the nest. After leaving the nest, they will still depend on their parents for food. In Ohio, the eaglets will become independent at 17 to 20 weeks of age.

Did you know that the call of the bald eagle is often misrepresented in movies and television? The "screaming" call we often associate with this bird is actually the call of a red-tailed hawk. In reality, the alarm call and other vocalizations of the bald eagle are quite squawky.

Eagles have a partially migratory nature. They tend to remain in their nesting site throughout the year if they have access to open water. However, if the water sources freeze, they migrate towards the south or the coast. Bald eagles form lifelong mating bonds, which are strengthened by impressive flight displays. They are also known for their territorial displays that involve talon-grappling and cartwheeling in the air as they dive towards the ground.