Excerpt
Chapter 1: Meet the Bald Eagle
The bald eagle is one of the most recognizable birds in North America. With its sharp beak, powerful wings, and piercing yellow eyes, it looks like it’s always paying close attention to what’s happening around it. This bird isn’t small either. It has an enormous wingspan—sometimes stretching up to seven feet across! That’s longer than most kids are tall. When it spreads its wings and soars through the sky, it barely even flaps. Instead, it rides the wind, gliding smoothly over forests, lakes, and rivers.
One of the most striking features of the bald eagle is its coloring. Its dark brown body stands in sharp contrast to its bright white head and tail. Those white feathers don’t show up right away, though. Young bald eagles look completely different from adults. They are mostly brown with white speckles, and it takes about five years for them to develop their famous white heads. Until then, they could easily be mistaken for a different type of eagle.
Despite its name, the bald eagle isn’t actually bald. The word “bald” in this case comes from an old English word, “piebald,” which means "white-headed." Early English-speaking settlers in North America saw these impressive birds and called them bald eagles, and the name stuck.
Where Bald Eagles Live
Bald eagles are found only in North America. They live in Canada, the United States, and parts of Mexico. Unlike some birds that prefer one type of environment, bald eagles are pretty adaptable. However, there is one thing they always need nearby—water. Rivers, lakes, and coastal areas are perfect homes for bald eagles because they provide plenty of food.
Alaska has the largest population of bald eagles in the world. The cold, rugged landscape might seem like a tough place to live, but for bald eagles, it’s perfect. The state has wide-open spaces, towering trees for nesting, and an abundance of fish. In some areas of Alaska, it’s not unusual to see dozens of bald eagles in one place. They gather in large numbers, especially near rivers where salmon are plentiful.
Bald eagles also live in the lower 48 states, but they are more common in places with lots of lakes and forests. States like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan have large bald eagle populations because of their many lakes. The Pacific Northwest, from Washington to Northern California, is another favorite spot. Florida, with its warm climate and wetlands, is home to many bald eagles as well.
Even though they prefer natural environments, bald eagles have been spotted in some surprising places. They can sometimes be seen soaring over big cities, flying near tall buildings or bridges. As long as there’s a food source nearby, bald eagles can make a home almost anywhere.
What Bald Eagles Eat
Bald eagles are carnivores, which means they eat meat. Their favorite food is fish. That’s why they stick close to lakes and rivers. With their sharp eyesight, they can spot a fish from high up in the air. When they see one swimming near the surface, they dive down, extend their massive talons, and snatch it right out of the water. Their strong grip keeps the fish from slipping away.
While fish is their preferred meal, bald eagles aren’t picky eaters. They’ll also hunt small mammals like rabbits and squirrels. If they find an easy meal, such as a dead animal, they won’t turn it down. They are opportunistic feeders, meaning they take advantage of whatever food is available. Sometimes, they even steal food from other birds, especially ospreys. If an osprey catches a fish, a bald eagle might chase it down, forcing the smaller bird to drop its catch. The eagle then swoops in and takes the fish for itself.
Even though bald eagles are powerful hunters, they don’t always succeed. Sometimes, they’ll miss a fish or struggle to pull one out of the water if it’s too heavy. But their hunting skills, combined with their ability to scavenge, make them one of the top predators in their environment.
The bald eagle is one of the most recognizable birds in North America. With its sharp beak, powerful wings, and piercing yellow eyes, it looks like it’s always paying close attention to what’s happening around it. This bird isn’t small either. It has an enormous wingspan—sometimes stretching up to seven feet across! That’s longer than most kids are tall. When it spreads its wings and soars through the sky, it barely even flaps. Instead, it rides the wind, gliding smoothly over forests, lakes, and rivers.
One of the most striking features of the bald eagle is its coloring. Its dark brown body stands in sharp contrast to its bright white head and tail. Those white feathers don’t show up right away, though. Young bald eagles look completely different from adults. They are mostly brown with white speckles, and it takes about five years for them to develop their famous white heads. Until then, they could easily be mistaken for a different type of eagle.
Despite its name, the bald eagle isn’t actually bald. The word “bald” in this case comes from an old English word, “piebald,” which means "white-headed." Early English-speaking settlers in North America saw these impressive birds and called them bald eagles, and the name stuck.
Where Bald Eagles Live
Bald eagles are found only in North America. They live in Canada, the United States, and parts of Mexico. Unlike some birds that prefer one type of environment, bald eagles are pretty adaptable. However, there is one thing they always need nearby—water. Rivers, lakes, and coastal areas are perfect homes for bald eagles because they provide plenty of food.
Alaska has the largest population of bald eagles in the world. The cold, rugged landscape might seem like a tough place to live, but for bald eagles, it’s perfect. The state has wide-open spaces, towering trees for nesting, and an abundance of fish. In some areas of Alaska, it’s not unusual to see dozens of bald eagles in one place. They gather in large numbers, especially near rivers where salmon are plentiful.
Bald eagles also live in the lower 48 states, but they are more common in places with lots of lakes and forests. States like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan have large bald eagle populations because of their many lakes. The Pacific Northwest, from Washington to Northern California, is another favorite spot. Florida, with its warm climate and wetlands, is home to many bald eagles as well.
Even though they prefer natural environments, bald eagles have been spotted in some surprising places. They can sometimes be seen soaring over big cities, flying near tall buildings or bridges. As long as there’s a food source nearby, bald eagles can make a home almost anywhere.
What Bald Eagles Eat
Bald eagles are carnivores, which means they eat meat. Their favorite food is fish. That’s why they stick close to lakes and rivers. With their sharp eyesight, they can spot a fish from high up in the air. When they see one swimming near the surface, they dive down, extend their massive talons, and snatch it right out of the water. Their strong grip keeps the fish from slipping away.
While fish is their preferred meal, bald eagles aren’t picky eaters. They’ll also hunt small mammals like rabbits and squirrels. If they find an easy meal, such as a dead animal, they won’t turn it down. They are opportunistic feeders, meaning they take advantage of whatever food is available. Sometimes, they even steal food from other birds, especially ospreys. If an osprey catches a fish, a bald eagle might chase it down, forcing the smaller bird to drop its catch. The eagle then swoops in and takes the fish for itself.
Even though bald eagles are powerful hunters, they don’t always succeed. Sometimes, they’ll miss a fish or struggle to pull one out of the water if it’s too heavy. But their hunting skills, combined with their ability to scavenge, make them one of the top predators in their environment.