Hawks and eagles (Accipitridae)

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus. Fish, waterfowl and carrion.

Hawks and eagles (Accipitridae)Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus

Scientific name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Length: 27.9–37.8 in
Weight: 105.8–222.2 oz
Nest: Massive stick nest reused and enlarged for years
Entrance hole: Does not use nest boxes
Clutch: 1–3 eggs
Incubation: 34–36 days
Broods: 1 per season

Identification

Adults have a white head and tail with a huge yellow bill
Immatures mottled brown and white
Flat-winged soaring silhouette

Voice

A surprisingly weak, high chatter of stuttered whistles.

Diet and feeding

Fish, waterfowl and carrion.

What do bald eagles eat? · Best feeder for bald eagles

Bald Eagles by state and province

Region	Status	Nesting
Alabama	Year-round resident	June
Alaska	Year-round resident	February–June
Alberta	Year-round resident	February–June
Arizona	Year-round resident	June
Arkansas	Year-round resident	January–June
British Columbia	Year-round resident	February–June
California	Year-round resident	June
Colorado	Year-round resident	January–June
Connecticut	Year-round resident	January–June
Delaware	Year-round resident	January–June
Florida	Year-round resident	June
Georgia	Year-round resident	June
Idaho	Year-round resident	January–June
Illinois	Year-round resident	January–June
Indiana	Year-round resident	January–June
Iowa	Year-round resident	January–June
Kansas	Year-round resident	January–June
Kentucky	Year-round resident	January–June
Louisiana	Year-round resident	June
Maine	Year-round resident	February–June
Manitoba	Year-round resident	February–June
Maryland	Year-round resident	January–June
Massachusetts	Year-round resident	January–June
Michigan	Year-round resident	January–June
Minnesota	Year-round resident	February–June
Mississippi	Year-round resident	June
Missouri	Year-round resident	January–June
Montana	Year-round resident	February–June
Nebraska	Year-round resident	January–June
Nevada	Year-round resident	January–June
New Brunswick	Year-round resident	February–June
New Hampshire	Year-round resident	February–June
New Jersey	Year-round resident	January–June
New Mexico	Year-round resident	January–June
New York	Year-round resident	January–June
Newfoundland and Labrador	Year-round resident	February–June
North Carolina	Year-round resident	January–June
North Dakota	Year-round resident	February–June
Northwest Territories	Year-round resident	February–June
Nova Scotia	Year-round resident	February–June
Ohio	Year-round resident	January–June
Oklahoma	Year-round resident	January–June
Ontario	Year-round resident	February–June
Oregon	Year-round resident	January–June
Pennsylvania	Year-round resident	January–June
Prince Edward Island	Year-round resident	February–June
Quebec	Year-round resident	February–June
Rhode Island	Year-round resident	January–June
Saskatchewan	Year-round resident	February–June
South Carolina	Year-round resident	June
South Dakota	Year-round resident	January–June
Tennessee	Year-round resident	January–June
Texas	Year-round resident	June
Utah	Year-round resident	January–June
Vermont	Year-round resident	February–June
Virginia	Year-round resident	January–June
Washington	Year-round resident	January–June
West Virginia	Year-round resident	January–June
Wisconsin	Year-round resident	February–June
Wyoming	Year-round resident	February–June
Yukon	Year-round resident	February–June

Frequently asked

What do bald eagles eat?

Fish, waterfowl and carrion. At feeders: none — open water with fish is the draw.

How big is a Bald Eagle?

27.9–37.8 in long and 105.8–222.2 oz.

Do bald eagles use birdhouses?

No. Massive stick nest reused and enlarged for years.

Sources

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.