Overview

The bald eagle is the bird that stops traffic — a massive raptor with a wingspan up to 2.3 metres, a fierce yellow bill, and that unmistakable white head and tail against a dark brown body. Once pushed to the edge of extinction by DDT, it has rebounded across North America and become one of the most sought-after discoveries in the Catch'Um collection.

Eagles hunt fish by snatching them from the water's surface, but they will also steal from ospreys, scavenge carrion, and patrol coastlines and lakeshores with an authority that makes every sighting feel legendary. Spot one perched in a dead tree or circling high over a reservoir and you'll understand why it became a national symbol.

Habitat

Bald eagles nest near large bodies of water across the United States and Canada — lakes, rivers, estuaries, and coastlines where fish are abundant. They favour tall trees or cliffs for nesting and roosting, and are increasingly seen on reservoirs and along major rivers far from the coast.

Countries found

Bald Eagle in United States

Interesting facts

01
Bald eagles can dive at speeds over 160 km/h when hunting fish.
02
Their nests can weigh over a tonne — some of the largest tree nests built by any bird.
03
Juvenile eagles don't develop the white head and tail until they are four or five years old.
04
DDT poisoning caused eggshell thinning and near-collapse of populations before the 1970s ban.
05
An eagle's grip strength can exceed 400 pounds per square inch — enough to crush bone.
06
They mate for life, returning to the same nesting territory year after year.

Conservation status

LC — Least Concern

Bald eagles recovered from Endangered status after DDT was banned and protections took hold — a rare conservation success story. They are now Least Concern, though habitat loss and lead poisoning from scavenged carcasses remain local threats.