Fun Facts About Bald Eagles // Wildlife
The national emblem of the United States of America, the bald eagle, is a majestic, powerful bird representing freedom, courage, and strength. It holds a special place in many people's hearts, including mine. A couple of months ago, I had the excellent opportunity to photograph this beautiful bird in person.
Bald eagles live a very long time with an average 25-40 years lifespan. These birds are the top predator in the food chain and have no natural predators. Found only in North America, their habitat is an area that has 1. Plenty of trees to make their nests 2. A good supply of food to eat, and 3. Near large open water bodies such as oceans, lakes, and reservoirs.
The bald eagle is a raptor or bird of prey. Predatorial, they have a hooked bill and sharp talons to aid them in the hunt. While their food of choice is fish, particularly salmon or trout, the eagle also eats small mammals such as raccoons and rabbits and small birds, like ducks or gills. Keep reading to learn a few more exciting facts about the bald eagle.
On the larger end of the birds' size chart, eagles' bodies range from two feet to a little over three feet with five to eight feet wingspan.
Monogamous eagles mate for life; the cutest fact that I found is that a pair will grow old together! Both males and females soar to high altitudes when courting a mate, locking talons, and tumble together towards the ground. This action is to help the birds determine the "fitness and athleticism" of their mate.
Like many other birds of prey, female eagles are larger and weigh 25% more than males. It is believed that they are larger to protect their young children and help incubate the eggs.
Together, the male and female will build a large nest, so big that the nest can be up to four feet deep and five feet wide! And to add to that, both birds will add up to two feet of additional material every year. The pair works together and helps cement their bond as a mated couple.
The eyes of a bald eagle are almost unparalleled. They can see ultra-violet light, and their field of vision is much larger than that of humans. When they are high up in the sky, they can see their small prey many feet below.
A common nickname for the bald eagle is "The King of the Sky," and it's well-deserved. This strong, streamlined bird can fly up to 10,000 feet high with little to no difficulty. They can travel around 30 miles per hour when flying at an average pace.
The bald eagle's dive-bomb is legendary. Once this bird has spotted its prey from above, they make a very fast dive bomb at the targeted animal at up to 100 miles per hour!
