Jen Langer February 17, 2014 Animal Fact Sheet

Bald Eagle
General Info:

Bald Eagles are f und in ! rth America"

#hese graceful birds ha$e been the nati nal symb l f the %nited States since 17&2" Bald eagles 'ere n the brin( f e)tincti n because f hunting and * lluti n" But la's created alm st 40 years ag ha$e hel*ed *r tect them, and they+$e made a c mebac("

Size & Color:

Female bald eagles are a bit bigger than males" #heir b dies can be , feet -1 meter. l ng, and their 'ings*an can be & feet -2"4 meters. acr ss" #hat+s ab ut the distance fr m the fl r t the ceiling/ #he bald eagle males and females are alm st same in c l rati n" #hese birds ha$e bright yell ' bea(, irides, and feet" #here are n feathers n their legs and they ha$e sh rt and * 'erful tal ns" #he eagles ha$e relati$ely l ng tail" 0ith the hel* f its large shar* bea( and tal ns they d n t all ' their *rey t m $e"

Bald Eagle ha$e 7,000 feathers" 0hen they l se ne feather fr m ne 'ing they l se ne fr m the ther 'ing t
Growth:

#he female lays 1 1 , eggs each year 'hich are incubated by b th males and females" #he length f these eggs measure ar und 7, mm -2"2 inches., al ng 'ith the breadth f 33 mm -2"2 inches." Bald Eagle eggs hatch after ,3 days" Babies, called eaglets, are b rn light gray then turn br 'n" 0hen they are 4 t 3 years ld, they de$el * their n rmal 'hite heads and tails" 4n the 'ild, they can li$e t be ,3 years ld r m re" #he a$erage lifes*an in ca*ti$ity is u* t 30 years" Bald eagles are m n gam us birds as they mate f r life"

Diet:

#he bald eagles feed n medium5si6ed as 'ell as small mammals, 'ith s*ecial *reference t fish 'hich is the *rimary bald eagles diet" #hey can s ar $er 10,000 feet -,,04& meters. high, and their great eyesight lets them see fish u* t a mile -1"7 (il meters. a'ay" 0hen they attac(, they dr * d 'n at u* t 100 miles -171 (il meters. an h ur/ #hen they glide 8ust ab $e the 'ater, snag a fish 'ith their feet, and fly ff t eat it" #hese carni$ r us birds can nly lift ab ut half their b dy 'eight" 4f they catch a fish that 'eighs m re than that, they might hang nt it 'ith their tal ns and 9s'im9 t sh re using their huge 'ings"

Nesting:

Eagle nests are called aeries -A4:5ees." Bald eagles build their nests at the $ery t * f tall trees s the eggs 'ill be safe"

S me *arents c me bac( year after year t the same nest, adding m re stic(s, t'igs, and grass each time" ;ne ld nest in Fl rida gre' t 2 feet -2"7 meters. 'ide and 20 feet -7"1 meters. tall and 'eighed m re than 4,000 * unds -1,&14 (il grams."

Habitat:

#he bald eagles inhabit al ng the large la(es, near seac asts, ceans, *laces 'here 'ater and fish are abundant and *en 'ater" #hese birds f *rey fancy their li$ing in la(es ha$ing 10 s<" (m -4 s<" miles. since these are *timal f r breeding" #hey build their nests in large mature trees m stly hard' d and c nifer us trees 'hich are als re<uired f r r sting and *erching" #he height f the trees is n t nly re<uired f r nesting but it als fulfills the need f g d $isibility fr m the height"

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