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Bald Eagle
File:2010-bald-eagle-kodiak.png
An adult bald eagle at Alaska's Kodiak Island in July 2010.
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Clade: Inopinaves
Clade: Afroaves
Superorder: Accipitrimorphae
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Subfamily: Buteoninae
Tribe: Milvini
Genus: Haliaeetus
Species: H. leucocephalus
Binomial name
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
(Linnaeus, 1766)
Subspecies

H. l. leucocephalus – Southern Bald Eagle
H. l. washingtoniensis – Northern Bald Eagle

File:Distribution H. leucocephalus.png
Bald eagle range
  Breeding resident
  Breeding summer visitor
  Winter visitor
  On migration only
Star: accidental records
Synonyms

Falco leucocephalus Template:Taxobox authority

Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus is a species of raptor in the Accipitridae family. It is found in North America, but can be found as an anomaly in Devonshire. It has two subspecies, but in Stokes Birds, it is considered monotypic.[2] It forms a superspecies with the White-tailed Eagle.

The Bald Eagle is the national bird of the United States of America. It appears on the country's national seal, as well as various state flags.

Other names[]

Some other names include American Eagle, White-headed Eagle and American Fish Eagle.

Desciption[]

The adult Bald Eagle possesses a white plumage around its head. A dark brown plumage is found on its lower body. The length of a Bald Eagle generally ranges from 76 to 109 cm; however, it possesses a wingspan of about 1.7 to 2.4 m.[3]

Similar species[]

Juvenile Bald Eagles look very similar to the Golden Eagle. One difference is the Golden Eagles legs, which have full plumage, while the lower legs of the juvenile Bald Eagle are bare.

Behaviour[]

Diet[]

Calls[]

Calls of the Bald Eagle consist of thin, weak squeals or a gull like cackle. Sound ranges of either: "kleek-kik-kik-kik" or "kah-kah-kah". [3]

It is a popular misconception that the Bald Eagle would screech like a Red-tailed Hawk as it is usually depicted in media.

Reproduction[]

Distribution/habitat[]

Bald Eagles are generally found near large lakes and rivers while nesting is often in a tree though not always near water. [3]

References[]

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2012). "Haliaeetus leucocephalus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013. 
  2. ^ Stokes, Donald W. and Stokes, Lilian Q. (2010). Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 9770316010504 Check |isbn= value: invalid prefix (help). 
  3. ^ a b c Krista Kagume (2005). Compact Guide to Ontario Birds. Lone Pine Publishing. ISBN 1551054671. 

External links[]