Bald Eagle in February
Where bald eagles are in February, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
February in the Bald Eagle's year
February still feels like deep winter, but days are lengthening and the first stirrings of the breeding season begin — resident birds start singing on mild mornings and some early nesters are already claiming territories. Late-winter storms can be the hardest feeding days of the year.
For the Bald Eagle specifically, February is a winter month inside the nesting season — one of the most active and demanding periods of this bird's year. Across the 61 states and provinces where bald eagles occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where bald eagles are in February
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In February, bald eagles are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in February
February is inside the Bald Eagle nesting season. Nest: massive stick nest reused and enlarged for years. Clutch 1–3 eggs, incubation 34–36 days, 1 per season.
The season is broadly synchronized across the range this month. During the nesting months, adults switch to protein-rich foods for their young, become more secretive around the nest site, and often visit feeders in quick, purposeful trips rather than lingering.
What to feed in February
- Waterfowl, carrion and fish below dams
Now a regular sight over reservoirs and rivers nationwide after its recovery from DDT.
Don't let feeders run empty during late-winter storms; birds burn enormous energy staying warm. This is also the month to clean and repair nest boxes before early nesters move in.
Full Bald Eagle diet guide → · Best feeder for bald eagles →
Watching bald eagles this month
In February, the best watching is around food rather than the nest — adults make repeated foraging trips and are most visible at dawn and dusk. Give nesting birds space: if a bird is carrying food or scolding you persistently, you're close to a nest and should back off.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region bald eagles are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Bald Eagle month by month
Bald Eagle by state
Frequently asked
Where are bald eagles in February?
In February, bald eagles are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do bald eagles nest in February?
Yes — February falls inside the Bald Eagle nesting season at mid-latitudes.
What do bald eagles eat in February?
Waterfowl, carrion and fish below dams.
Sources
- Bald Eagle — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Bald Eagle life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Bald Eagle — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
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.