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Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle (Courtesy NEBRASKAland Magazine/NGPC)

The Bald Eagle soars through the legends and mythology of many different cultures. In America, the Bald Eagle has been a symbol of freedom, peace, and justice throughout our country's history. More recently, the Bald Eagle has been associated with wilderness and environmental ethics.

Range
There are two subspecies of the Bald Eagle and each lives in a different part of the country.

• The Northern Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus alascanus) is found throughout the northern two thirds of the continent, including Nebraska.

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• The Southern Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus leucocephalus) can be found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, the lower Mississippi Valley, and west to northern Arizona, California and New Mexico in habitats near estuaries (where tides and river currents meet).

Description
Female eagles are generally larger than males. (That's typical of raptors.) Their wing spans reach six and a half to to seven and a half feet.

You can distinguish immature eagles by their overall plumage -- varying degrees of brown. As the young birds reach maturity at around age five you'll see they have the beginnings of white plumage, especially on the underwings. By the time they're five and a half years old, adult eagles have their white head and tail feathers.

Habitat
Breeding Bald Eagles return to nesting grounds in Nebraska as soon as weather and food allow, typically between January and March. They breed in forested or wooded areas near lakes and rivers. Nests are most often located in trees. Rarely, they'll nest on cliffs.

Bald Eagles usually roost at night in large groups with other eagles, especially during the non-breeding season. Usually their roost sites are trees that have a large, spreading canopy that is open and accessible.

Life History
Bald Eagles mate for life, unless one mate dies. Even when observed on non-breeding sites, they seem to maintain their pair bonds, on wintering areas and from year to year.

Courtship behavior in eagles is very ritualized and acrobatic. In the "cartwheel display," courting eagles will fly to high altitudes, lock talons, and cartwheel together toward the earth and break off just before they reach the ground. (Talk about falling head over heels for your mate!)