--- title: "Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | AnimalTracks.wiki" description: "An apex fish hunter with a talon grip ten times as strong as an average human's, carried on a wingspan of up to eight feet." image: "https://animaltracks.wiki/images/animals/bald-eagle-1.webp" published: "2026-08-31" updated: "2026-09-14" --- # Bald Eagle (*Haliaeetus leucocephalus*) > **Status**: Checked against 6 sources, listed under Sources below. > **Tagline**: An apex fish hunter with a talon grip ten times as strong as an average human's, carried on a wingspan of up to eight feet. > **Soundtrack Vibe**: Classic Hard Rock & Southern Blues // Tom Petty, "Free Fallin'" > **Soundtrack Links**: [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/track/5tVA6TkbaAH9QMITTQRrNv) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lWJXDG2i0A) > **Vibe Match**: Soaring 12-string guitar anthems for a bird that really does free-fall: two rival eagles, each with a grip 10 times as strong as an average human's, lock talons and spin toward the ground, letting go before impact. ## Biological Superpowers & Stats - **Taxonomy**: *Haliaeetus leucocephalus* - **Danger Level**: Medium - **Conservation Status**: Least Concern ([IUCN Red List](https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.uk.2024-2.rlts.t22695144a264598530.en)) - **Superpower**: A talon grip ten times as strong as an average human's, with spiny toe scales and rough foot pads that help it hold slippery fish. - **Habitat**: Typically coastal estuaries, lakes and rivers across North America, in many areas within a few kilometers of water - **Diet**: Fish, waterfowl, small mammals, carrion, and fish stolen from ospreys - **Tags**: raptor-bird, ocean, freshwater, apex-predator ## Natural History & Behavior ## A Grip Ten Times an Average Human's The bald eagle (*Haliaeetus leucocephalus*) usually hunts fish without diving in. It waits on a favorite perch until it spots one near the surface, then swoops down and snatches it in its talons. Rough foot pads and spiny scales help it grip the slippery catch, and that grip is about ten times as strong as an average human's. Adults stand 28 to 38 inches tall with a wingspan of 5.5 to 8 feet (1.7 to 2.4 meters). Females weigh 10 to 15 pounds against a male's 6 to 9. A bald eagle lives 16.5 years on average and can live up to 50. ## An Opportunist at the Top of the Food Chain Fish are the preferred catch, but a hungry bald eagle is not picky. It also feeds on seabirds and ducks, hunts small mammals such as rabbits and squirrels, eats carrion willingly, and is notorious for robbing ospreys of fish they have already caught. Across North America it usually lives near coasts, lakes and rivers, and in many areas it is found within 3 kilometers of water. ## Cartwheeling Rivals Bald eagles are believed to mate for life. The midair move they are known for is something else: two eagles lock talons and cartwheel toward the ground, letting go before impact. > **Territorial fight** That talon-grappling cartwheel is an aggressive territorial dispute, not a courtship behavior. ## From 417 Pairs to a New Threat Illegal shooting, habitat destruction, lead poisoning and the pesticide DDT reduced the bald eagle to an estimated 417 pairs in the continental United States by 1963. DDT caused brittle eggshells and eggs that failed to hatch, and the United States banned most uses of it in 1972. The bald eagle was listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1978, and it came off the endangered species list in 2007. A highly pathogenic strain of H5N1 bird flu reached North America in late 2021 and caused high rates of mortality among bald eagles. A 2022 survey found nest success on Georgia's coast had dropped to 47%, about 30% below the region's average. In Brevard and Hillsborough counties, Florida, 2022 nest success fell to 41.0% and 66.7%, down from averages of 86.5% and 78.3% over the previous six years. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What does a bald eagle really sound like? Bald eagles have a rather wimpy voice for such large birds, including a squeaky alarm call used near the nest. The screaming call often associated with the bald eagle is actually a red-tailed hawk's. *(Source: [Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute]())* ### How strong is a bald eagle's grip? About ten times as strong as an average human's, according to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Spiny scales and sharp talons on its toes grab fish, and rough pads on the bottom of each foot help grip the slippery catch. *(Source: [San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance]())* ### How big is the largest known bald eagle nest? The largest known bald eagle nest, found in Florida, was about 9 feet across and 20 feet deep, and weighed more than two tons. *(Source: [San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance]())* ### Is the bald eagle still an endangered species? No, it was removed from United States Endangered Species Act protection in 2007, and its recovery is among the most successful conservation stories in North America. Birds of the World's 2022 account puts the population of the contiguous United States at about 316,700 birds. *(Source: [Buehler 2022]())* ## Sources 1. [Bald Eagle. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.]() 2. [Bald eagle. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.]() 3. [Haliaeetus leucocephalus (bald eagle). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.]() 4. [Buehler (2022). Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Birds of the World.]() 5. [Nemeth et al. (2023). Bald eagle mortality and nest failure due to clade 2.3.4.4 highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza a virus. Scientific Reports.]() 6. [Haliaeetus leucocephalus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T22695144A264598530.]() *Published August 31, 2026. 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