American Bald Eagle Fact
There is one interesting and reassuring American Bald Eagle Fact, and that is the successful rehabilitation of the species in its native land. The Bald Eagle was tottering on the brink of extinction in the 1960s, when there were only about 500 mating pairs in the entire North America. The American Bald Eagle was declared endangered in 1967, and remained in the endangered list until 1995, when it was upgraded to “threatened.” In 2007, the bird was excluded from the endangered list.
Many people, especially American citizens, study American Bald Eagle Facts with great interest, because the Bald Eagle is the national symbol of the United States. It was officially established as the national emblem in 1782, and today it symbolizes democratic values, such as freedom, independence, eternal striving for excellence, and so forth. However, Ben Franklin opposed the acceptance of this bird as the country’s national symbol and suggested the turkey as a better alternative in terms of morale.
American Bald Eagles can be found almost everywhere in North America, from northern Mexico to Alaska. American Bald Eagles prefer to nest near water, because they feed mostly on fish. They are usually concentrated in the vicinity of lakes, rivers, as well as in coastal regions, wherever fish can be found. Bald Eagles also feed on ground animals, such as rabbits, hares, turtles, lizards, snakes, ducks, etc. Most interesting American Bald Eagle Facts are related to their outer look, hunting habits and relationships between males and females.
The feathering of mature American Bald Eagles is brown, and there are white feathers on the head, chest, under the wings and on the tail. The eyes and the beak are yellow. Bald Eagles measure 30-40 inches long on the average; they weigh 7-15 pounds, and their wingspan reaches 6-8 feet. Females are larger than males, which is also an interesting American Bald Eagle Fact. This phenomenon is termed “reverse sexual dimorphism”. Immature Bald Eagles are totally brown, including the beak and the eyes. American Bald Eagles reach puberty by 4-5 years old. These birds are monogamous, so pairs do not split up unless one of the two dies or they fail to have offspring for a long time. They build nests (eyries) high in trees or on rock outcroppings. A couple can use the same nest for lifetime, and if the nest is destroyed, they rebuild it in close vicinity.
American Bald Eagles can fly high up into the sky, and their eye permits them to spot food from high above. Bald Eagles hunt by swooping down and grabbing prey with their sharp talons. These birds can kill fish so large that it can be hard for them to carry it in the air, so they have to paddle toward the land. American Bald Eagle Fact websites present all sorts of information on how these birds hunt, including fascinating photographs of birds in the process of swooping down on prey.
