Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus; means white-headed sea eagle.

Life Span: May live up to 45 years, but many do not survive their first year.

Measurements: The bald eagle weighs 6-14 pounds and has a wingspread of 7-8 feet. Females are 34-43 inches long, compared to males, which are 30-35 inches in length.

Eyesight: Resolving power is six to eight times greater than humans.

Range: Because of extensive recovery activities, including banning of certain pesticides in the U.S., the bald eagle has returned to much of its historical range in North America. Several pairs now nest in South Dakota. Bald eagles move south for the winter to find open water, abundant food, and protective cover for night roosting. South Dakota’s wintering bald eagles congregate mostly on the open water below Missouri River dams. Here they find fish and waterfowl to eat and forest cover for protection against winter winds and low temperatures.

Coloration: Adult has a rich chocolate brown body with white head and tail. Birds are four to six years old before they attain this plumage. The beak, feet, and eyes are yellow. Immature bald eagles have a rich chocolate brown body, head and tail. Undersides of the wings are spotted with white. Feet are yellow; beak and eyes are brown.

Diet: Fish make up 60-90% of their diet. Bald eagles will eat live or dead fish. They also eat waterfowl and mammals. Their habit of eating carrion (remains of dead animals) makes them vulnerable to poisoning from illegal lacing of animal carcasses for predator control.

The Nest: Also called eyrie or aerie. Consists of a large mass of branches, usually next to the trunk of a tree and typically near water. Nests are often reused year after year. They may reach 12 feet in height, measure more than 8 feet across, and weigh several hundred pounds. Clutch size is one to three eggs, which both parents incubate for about five weeks.

Pair Bond: Adults usually mate for life. The pair bond is maintained with impressive courtship displays, where the pair locks talons in mid-air and somersaults downward. Both parents incubate eggs and care for nestlings. The pair may also hunt together to tire their prey or to pirate fish from ospreys. Bald eagles will also harass vultures to force them to disgorge food.

Protection Status: The bald eagle is protected under several state and federal laws, including the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald Eagle Protection Act. Just recently, the bald eagle was delisted from the federal threatened status. It is no longer protected under the Endangered Species Act but is still protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald Eagle Protection Act. The bald eagle is also a state threatened species, giving it state protection as well.