Bald Eagle

birds of prey · North America · fish hunters · iconic birds

Stunning white crown. Bald eagles have dark brown bodies, but their heads and tails are covered in bright white feathers that make them look royal. Young eagles don't get their white heads until they're about five years old.

Fish-stealing champions. These raptors hunt by swooping down and snatching fish right out of the water with their sharp talons. They need to live near big lakes, rivers, or coastlines where there's plenty of fish to eat.

Rulers of the sky. Bald eagles are sea eagles, meaning they're specially designed hunters that live near water. They build giant stick nests high up in old-growth trees where they can spot their next meal from far away.

Spread across North America. You can find bald eagles all over Canada, Alaska, the entire United States, and even northern Mexico. They make their homes wherever there's a big body of open water and tall trees for nesting.

Paired with cousins worldwide. The bald eagle's closest relative is the white-tailed eagle, which lives on the other side of the world in Europe and Asia. Even though they live continents apart, they hunt the same way and need the same kind of homes.