Bald eagle (haliaeetus leucocephalus)
The bald eagle, of the genus Hailaeeutus, is a North American bird of prey, best known for its size. Its range includes most of Canada and Alaska, all of the contiguous United States, and northern Mexico. It is found near large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply and old-growth trees for nesting.The bald eagle is an opportunistic feeder which subsists mainly on fish, which it swoops down and snatches from the water with its talons. It builds the largest nest of any North American bird and the largest tree nests ever recorded for any animal species, up to 4 m (13 ft) deep, 2.5 m (8.2 ft) wide, and 1 metric ton in weight.Sexual maturity is attained at the age of four to five years.
Bald eagles are not actually bald; the name derives from an older meaning of "white headed". The adult is mainly brown with a white head and tail. The sexes are identical in plumage, but females are about 25 percent larger than males. The beak is large and hooked. The plumage of the immature is brown.
The bald eagle is both the national bird and national animal of the United States of America.
Bald eagles are not actually bald; the name derives from an older meaning of "white headed". The adult is mainly brown with a white head and tail. The sexes are identical in plumage, but females are about 25 percent larger than males. The beak is large and hooked. The plumage of the immature is brown.
The bald eagle is both the national bird and national animal of the United States of America.
The bald eagle's skeleton resembles a common bird of prey skeleton, with an emphasized, hooked beak and large, curved talons. The arm and finger bones, like most birds, are light and hollow to help with flight. The beak is a specialized tool to help tear apart prey, which mostly consists of fish. The talons or claws are designed to provide the best possible grip on an object, be it a tree perch or a struggling fish.