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 The
bald eagle is best known for its strength and majesty. It has white feathers on its head. The
bald eagle got its name from the old English word “balde,” meaning white. The bald eagle
is one of the largest birds in North America. It is about 1 meter
long with a wingspan of 1.8 to 2.4 meters.
They weigh from 3 to 6 kilograms.
Females are larger than males and have a slightly longer wingspan.
They can reach flight speeds between 56 and 64 kilometers
per hour.
Bald eagles are found in forests, valleys, mountain areas, lakes and rivers in Canada, Alaska
and the lower 48 states in the U.S. They are
predators and have excellent eyesight. They eat fish,
waterfowl, and small mammals. Sometimes they also eat turtles and even carrion! They use their powerful feet to capture prey. Then they use their
strong hooked beaks to tear food.
 Bald eagles
mate for life. Females lay one
or two eggs in the spring. The chicks hatch after 35 days. If two
are hatched, usually only the chick that
is stronger survives. At 15 weeks of
age, the young eagle leaves the nest and never comes back.
Bald eagles can live up to 48 years in zoos and for over 30 years
in the wild.
On June 20, 1782, the bald eagle was officially declared the National Emblem of the United
States. It was selected by the U.S.A.’s founding fathers because it
is a species unique to North America.
The bald eagle has since become the living symbol of America’s freedom, spirit and pursuit of excellence. Its image and
symbolism have played an
important role in American art, music and architecture. |
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