Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), literally named in Latin “white-headed sea eagle”, is one of 59 eagles species, two found within North America, and the only one found exclusively on the continent. Now a proud and protected symbol of the United States, it was formerly on the federal list of threatened and endangered species in the U.S. between 1978 and 2007 as a result of various types of human activity: habitat loss and increased competition for food; intentional hunting and trapping; and poisoning from the pesticide DDT and lead shots left in the environment.

Characteristics

An adult bald eagle is easy to identify soaring in the distance with its broad wings held out flat and its unique white-feathered head and tail peeking out from a much darker brown body and wings. Harder to see from far away, its eyes, legs, and sharp, hooked beak are a bright yellow…

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