• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Difference between revisions of "Bald Eagle" - BirdForum Opus

Page Discussion
View source History
(User template added to Photo)
(Photo of Immature. Attempt made to disguise some copied text. Taxonomy expanded. References)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
[[Image:Bald_Eagle.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|ixodid|ixodid}}<br/>Photographed in Topeka, [[Kansas]], [[USA]]]]
+
[[Image:Bald_Eagle.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|ixodid|ixodid}}<br />Topeka, [[Kansas]], [[USA]]]]
 
;[[:Category:Haliaeetus|Haliaeetus]] leucocephalus
 
;[[:Category:Haliaeetus|Haliaeetus]] leucocephalus
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
Line 8: Line 8:
 
*Heavy yellow bill<br/>
 
*Heavy yellow bill<br/>
  
−
Young birds lack the white head and tail, and resemble adult Golden Eagles, but are variably marked with white and have a black, more massive bill.
+
'''Immature''' birds lack the white head and tail (resembling adult [[Golden Eagle]]). The have a black bill and a varying amount of white plumage.
−
 
+
[[Image:IMG 6622 57-1bf.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Immature<br />Photo by {{user|Jim+Crosswell|Jim Crosswell }}<br />Windsor, [[Ontario]], July 2008 ]]
 +
==Distribution==
 +
Breeds from [[Alaska]] east to [[Newfoundland]] and south locally to [[California]], [[Great Lakes]], and [[Virginia]]; also in [[Arizona]], along [[Gulf Coast]], and in [[Florida]]. Formerly more widespread. Winters along coasts and large rivers in much of [[United States]].
 
====Endangered Status====
 
====Endangered Status====
 
The Bald Eagle is on the U.S. Endangered Species List.  
 
The Bald Eagle is on the U.S. Endangered Species List.  
−
 
−
==Distribution==
 
−
Breeds from [[Alaska]] east to [[Newfoundland]] and south locally to [[California]], [[Great Lakes]], and [[Virginia]]; also in [[Arizona]], along [[Gulf Coast]], and in [[Florida]]. Formerly more widespread. Winters along coasts and large rivers in much of [[United States]].
 
−
 
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
−
There are 3 subspecies
+
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>====
−
* ''H l leucocephalus''
+
There are 2 subspecies:
−
* ''H l washingtoniensis''
+
*''H. l. washingtoniensis'':
−
* ''H l alascanus''
+
:*Locally in [[Aleutian Islands]], [[Alaska]], [[Canada]] and northern [[US]]
 +
*''H. l. leucocephalus'':
 +
:*Locally from southern [[US]] to north-western [[Mexico]]
  
 +
A third subspecies ''alascanus''<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup> is not recognised by all authorities.
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Lakes, rivers, marshes, and seacoasts.
 
Lakes, rivers, marshes, and seacoasts.
−
 
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
−
2 or 3 white eggs in a massive nest of sticks in a tall tree or, less frequently, on top of a cliff.
+
====Breeding====
−
 
+
They build a large nest of sticks on top of a cliff or in a tall tree. Two to three white eggs are laid.
−
Bald Eagles are fish eaters, like Ospreys; when they pursue their prey they rarely enter the water as an Osprey does, but instead snatch the fish from the surface with their talons. Where Ospreys are common, the eagles obtain much of their food by stealing it from the smaller "fish hawk."
+
====Diet====
−
 
+
Their main diet is fish, which is snatched from the surface of water. Alternatively they will rob an [[Osprey]] of its catch
 
====Vocalisation====
 
====Vocalisation====
 
Squeaky cackling and thin squeals.
 
Squeaky cackling and thin squeals.
−
 
+
==References==
−
 
+
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}}#Avibase
 +
#eNature
 +
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
{{GSearch|Haliaeetus+leucocephalus}}
 
{{GSearch|Haliaeetus+leucocephalus}}

Revision as of 17:00, 26 July 2009

Photo by ixodid
Topeka, Kansas, USA
Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Identification

L. 30-31" (76-79 cm)
W. 6-7' 6" (1.8-2.3 m)

  • Large blackish eagle
  • White head and tail
  • Heavy yellow bill

Immature birds lack the white head and tail (resembling adult Golden Eagle). The have a black bill and a varying amount of white plumage.

Immature
Photo by Jim Crosswell
Windsor, Ontario, July 2008

Distribution

Breeds from Alaska east to Newfoundland and south locally to California, Great Lakes, and Virginia; also in Arizona, along Gulf Coast, and in Florida. Formerly more widespread. Winters along coasts and large rivers in much of United States.

Endangered Status

The Bald Eagle is on the U.S. Endangered Species List.

Taxonomy

Subspecies[1]

There are 2 subspecies:

  • H. l. washingtoniensis:
  • H. l. leucocephalus:
  • Locally from southern US to north-western Mexico

A third subspecies alascanus[2] is not recognised by all authorities.

Habitat

Lakes, rivers, marshes, and seacoasts.

Behaviour

Breeding

They build a large nest of sticks on top of a cliff or in a tall tree. Two to three white eggs are laid.

Diet

Their main diet is fish, which is snatched from the surface of water. Alternatively they will rob an Osprey of its catch

Vocalisation

Squeaky cackling and thin squeals.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
  2. Avibase
  3. eNature

Recommended Citation

External Links


Retrieved from ‘https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/index.php?title=Bald_Eagle&oldid=143106’
Back
Top