The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a bird of prey
belonging to the order Accipitriformes
and the family Accipitridae. Found in America,
Canada and Mexico,
the bald eagle prefers a habitat that includes established trees for nesting and
bodies of open water for fishing. There are two subspecies of bald eagle:
Northern Bald and Southern Bald.
Distinguishing features of the bald eagle include a wingspan
of 96 inches, a brown body with a white head and distinctive yellow beak.
Infant bald eagles have completely brown plumage. They have an average lifespan
of 30 years and create huge nests up to four feet in length.
Bald eagles dine mostly on fish but will take whatever prey
they stumble upon. They use the swooping method for catching fish, grabbing the
fish from the river with their strong talons. Female bald eagles are larger
than the male of the species. They reach flying speeds of 43 miles per hour.
The bald eagle is the national bird of the United
States of America and considered a symbol of
freedom.