The Bald Eagle is a sea eagle in the same pairing as the white-tailed Eagle. Some range areas overlap, but the Bald Eagles range covers Alaska, most of Canada, the lower 48 states, & even parts of Mexico. The White-tailed Eagle is more at home in the far east. The Bald Eagle is the national bird of the United States of America & is easily recognizable by its white head, tail, & evenly dark brown body. The beak, feet & eyes are all bright yellow. An immature Bald Eagle does not have a white head but can be recognized by the messy white streaking in its brown colour.
What Is The Bald Eagle’s Preferred Habitat?
The Bald Eagle’s preferred habitat is the old-growth forest. An eagle will choose trees at least 20m (66ft) tall for its nest, & there is little evidence that the tree species plays a part in the selection. Generally, the height, presence of water, & prey availability guide Bald Eagles in choosing their nesting site.
What Is The Bald Eagle’s Preferred Diet?
Bald Eagles are sea eagles; their favourite prey is fish, particularly salmon, which is very popular in Alaska. However, when sea life is unavailable, these imposing birds are not above making a meal out of a small mammal or bird.
This glorious symbol of freedom was once a common sight throughout its range. Once numbered in the hundreds of thousands, their population was reduced to less than a thousand by the middle of the twentieth century. Much of this was attributed to certain pesticides, but many Bald Eagles were also the victims of hunters & habitat loss through logging the old-growth forests they so favour for nesting.
What Is The Recovery of the Bald Eagle?
With the ban on Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (an insecticide used in agriculture) & a significantly reduced amount of logging old-growth forests, the Bald Eagle has remarkably recovered, with as many as 40-50,000 birds in Alaska alone.
- NaturesLens wildlife photography holidays are structured around photographic opportunity — every schedule decision is made around light, behaviour, & access.
- Small groups of 4–8 photographers ensure unhurried positions & individual guidance.
- Single occupancy accommodation is included as standard across the majority of our trips.
