Month 7 · July · Wave 1

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus · Accipitridae

National bird of the United States; a conservation comeback story.

At a glance

Size: 28–40 in
Wingspan: 6–7.5 ft
Habitat: Lakes, rivers, coasts with large trees
Diet: Fish primarily; also waterbirds, carrion

Range: Much of Canada and the U.S.; recovered after DDT ban

Nesting: Massive nest in a tall tree or cliff; among the largest bird nests in North America.

Coloring pose idea: Adult soaring with white head and tail

Hear this bird

General call / song: High thin squeals and chatters — not a deep movie scream (films often use a Red-tailed Hawk).

Mating / display: Duetted chatters near the nest; aerial cartwheel displays with locked talons.

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Play calls on All About Birds Species overview Audubon field guide

How to know it

Adult: white head and white tail, dark brown body, huge yellow bill.
Immature: mottled brown for several years before full white head.
Broad wings held flat in soar; large head projecting beyond wings.

Behavior

Builds enormous stick nests reused for years.
Often steals fish from ospreys.
Pairs perform spectacular cartwheel courtship flights.

Fun facts

Nests can weigh hundreds of pounds after years of reuse.
Removed from the U.S. endangered list in 2007 after recovery.
Vision is exceptionally sharp for spotting fish from high altitudes.

Companion page for the Birds Coloring Calendar series by R. J. D. B. Fact summaries are original educational text. Call playback via link to All About Birds / Cornell Lab. Re-test QR codes on a phone before final print. Not affiliated with Cornell Lab or Audubon.

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