Bald Eagle Fact Sheet

U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
wingspan of 6 feet. Sometimes confused as the national symbol in 1782, the

with golden eagles, bald eagles are country may have had as many as
mostly dark brown until they are four 100,000 nesting eagles. The first major
to five years old and acquire their decline of the species probably began in
characteristic coloring. There is a the mid to late 1800’s, coinciding with
distinction between the two species, the decline of waterfowl, shorebirds,
though, even during the early years. and other prey.
Only the tops of the bald eagle’s legs
have feathers. The legs of golden eagles Although they primarily eat fish
are feathered all the way down. and carrion, bald eagles used to be
considered marauders that preyed
Bald eagles live near rivers, lakes, and on chickens, lambs, and domestic
marshes where they can find fish, their livestock. Consequently, the large
staple food. Bald eagles will also feed raptors were shot in an effort to
on waterfowl, turtles, rabbits, snakes, eliminate a perceived threat. Coupled
and other small animals and carrion. with the loss of nesting habitat, bald
eagle populations declined.
Bald eagles require a good food base,
perching areas, and nesting sites. Their In 1940, noting that the species was
habitat includes estuaries, large lakes, “threatened with extinction,” Congress
reservoirs, rivers, and some seacoasts. passed the Bald Eagle Protection
Dave Menke, USFWS
In winter, the birds congregate near Act, which prohibited killing, selling,
open water in tall trees for spotting or possessing the species. A 1962
prey and night roosts for sheltering. amendment added the golden eagle,
and the law became the Bald and
Eagles mate for life, choosing the tops Golden Eagle Protection Act.
of large trees to build nests, which they
A North American species with a typically use and enlarge each year. Shortly after World War II, DDT was
historic range from Alaska and Canada Nests may reach 10 feet across and hailed as a new pesticide to control
to northern Mexico, the bald eagle is an weigh a half ton. They may also have mosquitoes and other insects. However,
Endangered Species Act success story. one or more alternate nests within DDT and its residues washed into
their breeding territory. In treeless nearby waterways, where aquatic
Forty years ago, our national symbol regions, they may also nest in cliffs plants and fish absorbed it. Bald eagles,
was in danger of extinction throughout or on the ground. The birds travel in turn, were poisoned with DDT when
most of its range. Habitat destruction great distances but usually return to they ate the contaminated fish. The
and degradation, illegal shooting, breeding grounds within 100 miles of chemical interfered with the ability of
and the contamination of its food the place where they were raised. Bald the birds to produce strong eggshells.
source, largely as a consequence of eagles may live 15 to 25 years in the As a result, their eggs had shells so
DDT, decimated the eagle population. wild, longer in captivity. thin that they often broke during
Habitat protection afforded by the incubation or otherwise failed to hatch.
Endangered Species Act, the federal Breeding bald eagles typically lay one DDT also affected other species such as
government’s banning of DDT, and to three eggs once a year, and they peregrine falcons and brown pelicans.
conservation actions taken by the hatch after about 35 days. The young
American public have helped bald eagles are flying within three months In addition to the adverse effects
eagles make a remarkable recovery. and are on their own about a month of DDT, some bald eagles have died
later. However, disease, lack of food, from lead poisoning after feeding
Bald Eagle Biology bad weather, or human interference can on waterfowl containing lead shot,
Distinguished by a white head and kill many eaglets. Recent studies show either as a result of hunting or from
white tail feathers, bald eagles are that approximately 70 percent survive inadvertent ingestion.
powerful, brown birds that may weigh their first year of life.
14 pounds and have a wingspan of 8 By 1963, with only 417 nesting pairs
feet. Male eagles are smaller, weighing The Plight of the Bald Eagle of bald eagles remaining, the species
as much as 10 pounds and have a When America adopted the bald eagle January
was in danger of 1998
extinction. Loss of
habitat, shooting, and DDT poisoning
contributed to the near demise of our
national symbol.
The Road Back

As the dangers of DDT became known,
in large part due to the 1962 publication
of Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring,
the Environmental Protection Agency
took the historic and, at the time,
controversial step of banning the use
of DDT in the United States. That was
in 1972, and it was the first step on the
road to recovery for the bald eagle.
In 1967, the Secretary of Interior

listed bald eagles south of the 40th
parallel under the Endangered Species
Preservation Act of 1966. Following
enactment of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, the Service listed
the species in 1978 as endangered
throughout the lower 48 states, except
in Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon,
Washington, and Wisconsin where it
was designated as threatened.
“Endangered” means a species is

considered in danger of extinction
throughout all or a significant portion
of its range. “Threatened” means a
species is considered likely to become
endangered within the foreseeable
Shutterstock photo
future, but is not currently in danger of
extinction.
The species was not listed as

threatened or endangered in Hawaii
because it does not occur there, or in
Alaska because populations there have on the status of the species. apply. Accessible on our Web site,
remained robust. the guidelines are designed to help
Based on the most recent population landowners avoid disturbing eagles and
Listing the species as endangered figures, the Service estimates that also encourage beneficial conservation
provided the springboard for the there are at least 9,789 nesting pairs practices.
Service and its partners to accelerate of bald eagles in the contiguous United
the pace of recovery through captive States. Bald eagles have staged a The Service will continue to work with
breeding programs, reintroduction remarkable population rebound and state wildlife agencies to monitor the
efforts, law enforcement, and nest site have recovered to the point that they status of bald eagles for a minimum
protection during the breeding season. no longer need the protection of the of five years, as required by the
Endangered Species Act. Endangered Species Act. If the species
In July 1995, the Service announced should need the protection of the Act,
that bald eagles in the lower 48 states Thus, on June 28, 2007, the Service the Service can relist it as endangered
had recovered to the point where those announced the recovery of our nation’s or threatened. In the meantime,
populations previously considered symbol and removal from the list of individual states may also pass or
endangered were now considered threatened and endangered species. implement laws to protect bald eagles.
threatened.
What Lies Ahead For more information on the recovery
In July 1999, the Service proposed to Although the Service removed the of bald eagles, please visit http://www.
remove the bald eagle from the list of bald eagle from the list of threatened fws.gov/migratorybirds/BaldEagle.htm
threatened and endangered species. and endangered species under the
Since then, the Service has reviewed Endangered Species Act, the bird will
comments received on that proposal still be protected by the Migratory
along with new data and information Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and
to determine the best ways to manage Golden Eagle Protection Act. Both laws U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
the species once it is removed from the prohibit killing, selling or otherwise Endangered Species Program
protections of the Endangered Species harming eagles, their nests, or eggs. 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 420
Act. In 2006, the Service re-opened Arlington, VA 22203
the public comment period due to new The Service has developed guidelines 703-358-2390
information on the proposal to delist. that describe circumstances under http://www.fws.gov/endangered/
Data gathered during this comment which provisions of the Bald and
period was factored into a final decision Golden Eagle Protection Act may June 2007

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U.S.

Fish & Wildlife Service

wingspan of 6 feet. Sometimes confused as the national symbol in 1782, the

The Road Back

In 1967, the Secretary of Interior

“Endangered” means a species is

The species was not listed as

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