Feeding Habits: While bald eagles primarily feed on fish, they are opportunistic hunters and will also prey on birds, mammals, and carrion. They are known to steal prey from other birds like ospreys.
Speed and Agility: Despite their large size, bald eagles are agile flyers capable of reaching speeds of up to 30 miles per hour during normal flight and diving at speeds of 75-100 miles per hour when hunting.
Nest Construction: Bald eagles build some of the largest nests of any bird species. Their nests, called eyries, can be up to 13 feet deep, 8 feet wide, and weigh as much as a ton. They add new materials each breeding season, and some nests are used for decades.
Molt Patterns: Bald eagles undergo a unique molting process where they replace all of their feathers gradually over several years. During their first five years, juveniles' plumage changes until they develop the iconic white head and tail of adults.
Vocalizations: Despite their fierce appearance, bald eagles have a surprisingly weak and high-pitched call that sounds more like a chirp or whistle. Their vocalizations are not the powerful screeches often depicted in media.
Population Rebound: Bald eagles were once endangered due to habitat loss, hunting, and pesticide use (particularly DDT). Since the banning of DDT and conservation efforts, their populations have rebounded, and they were removed from the U.S. endangered species list in 2007.