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What the sources say

Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Bald Eagle profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 53 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Bald Eagle. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

The page saysa talon grip ten times as strong as an average human's
The source saysits grip strength is 10 times that of the average human
The page saysa wingspan of up to eight feet
The source saysWingspan: 5.5 to 8 feet (1.7 to 2.4 meters)Note: San Diego Zoo, the source of the height and weight, over Smithsonian's "up to 8.5 feet": ADW's range (178 to 229 cm) also tops out below 8 feet, so 8.5 is the one outlier
The page saysspiny toe scales and rough foot pads that help it hold slippery fish
The source saysbald eagles come equipped with spiny scales and sharp talons on their toes for grabbing fish. Rough pads on the bottom of each foot also help grip this slippery food
The page saysA Grip Ten Times an Average Human's
The source saysits grip strength is 10 times that of the average humanNote: heading
The page sayswaits on a favorite perch until it spots one near the surface, then swoops down and snatches it in its talons
The source saysA hungry eagle waits on its favorite perch until it spies a fish near the surface. It can swoop down on the water and snatch a fish with those special feet
The page saysRough foot pads and spiny scales help it grip the slippery catch
The source saysbald eagles come equipped with spiny scales and sharp talons on their toes for grabbing fish. Rough pads on the bottom of each foot also help grip this slippery food
The page saysthat grip is about ten times as strong as an average human's
The source saysits grip strength is 10 times that of the average humanNote: also what stats.dangerLevel: Medium rests on (settled in #178): 'Can injure, but rarely seriously'. The 'rarely' is ADW's 'Bald eagles do not directly have a negative impact on humans.', which has no sentence on the page and is quoted in the PR
The page saysAdults stand 28 to 38 inches tall
The source saysHeight: 28 to 38 inches (71 to 96 centimeters)
The page saysa wingspan of 5.5 to 8 feet (1.7 to 2.4 meters)
The source saysWingspan: 5.5 to 8 feet (1.7 to 2.4 meters)
The page saysFemales weigh 10 to 15 pounds against a male's 6 to 9
The source saysWeight: Females, 10 to 15 pounds (4.5 to 6.8 kilograms); males, 6 to 9 pounds (2.7 to 4 kilograms)
The page saysA bald eagle lives 16.5 years on average
The source saysLIFE SPAN 16.5 years on averageNote: replaces ADW's 2013 "Typical lifespan Status: wild 15 to 20 years"; San Diego Zoo states no wild or captive scope, so the page states none
The page saysAbout ten times as strong as an average human's
The source saysits grip strength is 10 times that of the average human
The page saysSpiny scales and sharp talons on its toes grab fish, and rough pads on the bottom of each foot help grip the slippery catch
The source saysbald eagles come equipped with spiny scales and sharp talons on their toes for grabbing fish. Rough pads on the bottom of each foot also help grip this slippery food
The page saysThe largest known bald eagle nest, found in Florida, was about 9 feet across and 20 feet deep, and weighed more than two tons
The source saysThe largest known eagle nest was found in Florida. It was 9 feet (2.7 meters) across, 20 feet (6 meters) deep, and weighed over two tons (2 tonnes)
The page sayseach with a grip 10 times as strong as an average human's
The source saysits grip strength is 10 times that of the average humanNote: vibe.reason, settled in #178

Source
02

Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Bald eagle. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

The page saysFish, waterfowl, small mammals, carrion, and fish stolen from ospreys
The source saysprefer fish as their primary food ... They also eat sea birds and ducks or hunt over grasslands and marshes for small mammals ... Bald eagles eat carrion willingly and are notorious for robbing osprey of their catchesNote: waterfowl is the ducks in "sea birds and ducks"
The page saysusually hunts fish without diving in
The source saysWhen hunting for fishes, it does not usually dive into the water like the osprey but instead searches for fish near the surface
The page sayscan live up to 50
The source saysBald eagles can live up to 50 yearsNote: Smithsonian states no wild or captive scope, so the page states none
The page saysAn Opportunist at the Top of the Food Chain
The source saysBald eagles are opportunistic foragersNote: heading; the top of the food chain is ADW's "As a top predator, bald eagles impact all members of their trophic community"
The page saysFish are the preferred catch, but a hungry bald eagle is not picky
The source saysBald eagles are opportunistic foragers but prefer fish as their primary food
The page saysIt also feeds on seabirds and ducks, hunts small mammals such as rabbits and squirrels
The source saysThey also eat sea birds and ducks or hunt over grasslands and marshes for small mammals such as rabbits, squirrels, prairie dogs and muskrats
The page sayseats carrion willingly
The source saysBald eagles eat carrion willingly
The page saysnotorious for robbing ospreys of fish they have already caught
The source saysare notorious for robbing osprey of their catchesNote: the already-caught fish is the Smithsonian's next sentence: eagles wait for an osprey "to return to its nest with a fish in its talons" and harass it "until it is forced to drop its prey for the eagle to retrieve"
The page saysCartwheeling Rivals
The source saysThe talon-grappling, cartwheeling fight they are known for is an aggressive territorial disputeNote: heading
The page saysThe midair move they are known for is something else
The source saysThe talon-grappling, cartwheeling fight they are known for is an aggressive territorial dispute, not a courtship behaviorNote: something else: not courtship, in the same sentence
The page saysTerritorial fight
The source saysThe talon-grappling, cartwheeling fight they are known for is an aggressive territorial disputeNote: blockquote lead
The page saysThat talon-grappling cartwheel is an aggressive territorial dispute, not a courtship behavior
The source saysThe talon-grappling, cartwheeling fight they are known for is an aggressive territorial dispute, not a courtship behavior
The page saysFrom 417 Pairs to a New Threat
The source saysreduced eagle numbers to only 417 pairs by 1963Note: heading; the new threat is H5N1 (Nemeth et al. 2023)
The page saysIllegal shooting, habitat destruction, lead poisoning and the pesticide DDT
The source saysIllegal shooting, habitat destruction, lead poisoning and the catastrophic effects of the pesticide DDT in their prey base reduced eagle numbers to only 417 pairs by 1963Note: final pass: the draft dropped lead poisoning from the source's list
The page saysthe United States banned most uses of it in 1972
The source saysthe banning of DDT for most uses in the United States in 1972
The page saysThe bald eagle was listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1978
The source saysthe 1978 listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973
The page saysit came off the endangered species list in 2007
The source saysThe USFWS delisted the bald eagle from the Endangered Species List on August 9, 2007
The page saysBald eagles have a rather wimpy voice for such large birds
The source saysBald eagles have a rather wimpy voice for such large, majestic birds
The page saysincluding a squeaky alarm call used near the nest
The source saysThey have a squeaky alarm call used near the nest
The page saysThe screaming call often associated with the bald eagle is actually a red-tailed hawk's
The source saysThe "screaming" vocalization often associated with the bald eagle is actually a red-tailed hawk call
The page saystwo rival eagles
The source saysThe talon-grappling, cartwheeling fight they are known for is an aggressive territorial disputeNote: vibe.reason, settled in #178: replaces 'open-highway freedom, and classic American majesty', which argued from mood and culture

Source
03

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Haliaeetus leucocephalus (bald eagle). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysAn apex fish hunter
The source saysAs a top predator, bald eagles impact all members of their trophic communityNote: fish hunter is Smithsonian's "prefer fish as their primary food"
The page saysTypically coastal estuaries, lakes and rivers across North America
The source saysare found throughout North America, near large water sources ... typically prefer areas near large water bodies such as sea coasts, coastal estuaries and inland lakes and rivers
The page saysin many areas within a few kilometers of water
The source saysin many areas, these birds are found within 3 km of a water source
The page saysAcross North America it usually lives near coasts, lakes and rivers
The source saysare found throughout North America, near large water sources ... typically prefer areas near large water bodies such as sea coasts, coastal estuaries and inland lakes and rivers
The page saysin many areas it is found within 3 kilometers of water
The source saysin many areas, these birds are found within 3 km of a water source
The page saysBald eagles are believed to mate for life
The source saysThese birds are believed to mate for life, or until a pair member dies
The page saystwo eagles lock talons and cartwheel toward the ground, letting go before impact
The source saysDuring their cart-wheel display, the birds clasp their feet in the air and spin as they plummet towards the ground, letting go before impactNote: mechanics only: ADW files the cartwheel under courtship (2013), and the page follows the current Smithsonian page that it is a territorial dispute
The page saysreduced the bald eagle to an estimated 417 pairs in the continental United States by 1963
The source saysIn 1963, there were an estimated 417 pairs of bald eagles remaining in the continental US
The page saysDDT caused brittle eggshells and eggs that failed to hatch
The source saysDDT impacts all animals, with impacts such as deformities, neurological damage and in the case of birds, brittle egg shells and unhatching eggs
The page sayslock talons and spin toward the ground, letting go before impact
The source saysDuring their cart-wheel display, the birds clasp their feet in the air and spin as they plummet towards the ground, letting go before impactNote: vibe.reason, settled in #178; mechanics only, as in the body: the Smithsonian's current page, not ADW's courtship reading, says what the fight is for

Source
04

Buehler 2022

Buehler (2022). Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Birds of the World.

The page saysit was removed from United States Endangered Species Act protection in 2007
The source saysThe Bald Eagle was removed from U.S. Endangered Species Act protection in 2007
The page saysits recovery is among the most successful conservation stories in North America
The source saysits population recovery is among the most successful conservation stories in North America
The page saysBirds of the World's 2022 account puts the population of the contiguous United States at about 316,700 birds
The source saysRecent models have estimated the population at 316,700 individuals and 71,400 occupied nests in the contiguous United States ... Recommended Citation Buehler, D. A. (2022)

Source
05

Nemeth et al. 2023

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.

The page saysA highly pathogenic strain of H5N1 bird flu reached North America in late 2021 and caused high rates of mortality among bald eagles
The source saysThe introduction of A/goose/Guangdong/1/1996 lineage highly pathogenic (HP) clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 influenza A virus (IAV) in North America in late 2021 resulted in high rates of mortality among bald eagles
The page saysA 2022 survey found nest success on Georgia's coast had dropped to 47%, about 30% below the region's average
The source saysIn Georgia, a 2022 aerial statewide survey revealed 47% nest success for bald eagles in the coastal region, which is about 30% below the average for the region
The page saysIn 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
The source saysWhen contrasted with the mean metrics reported from the preceding 6-year observational period, 2022 nest success in these two counties, dropped from 86.5 to 41.0% and 78.3 to 66.7%, respectively

Source
06

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024

Haliaeetus leucocephalus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T22695144A264598530.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC)

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.