Quick answers
| Question | Answer | Scope | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How long they live | The longevity record is 28 years in the wild and 36 years in captivity. The page gives record ages, not an average. | Bald eagles, Channel Islands National Park page (NPS, California) | NPS, Channel Islands National Park | |
| What they eat | Mainly fish. When fish run short they rely largely on carrion, especially in winter. They also take mammals such as rabbits and raccoons and birds such as ducks and geese. | Bald eagles, Channel Islands National Park page (NPS, California) | NPS, Channel Islands National Park | |
| Where they live | Near large bodies of open water with plenty of food and old-growth trees for nesting. | Bald eagles, Channel Islands National Park page (NPS, California) | NPS, Channel Islands National Park | |
| Range | Most of Canada and Alaska, all of the contiguous United States, and northern Mexico. | Bald eagles across North America, as stated on the Channel Islands page | NPS, Channel Islands National Park | |
| Do they migrate? | Northern bald eagles do. Southern ones stay on their breeding territory all year. | Bald eagles, Channel Islands National Park page (NPS, California) | NPS, Channel Islands National Park | |
| Eggs and chicks | One to three eggs, usually two, incubated about 35 days. The young fledge 10 to 12 weeks after hatching. | Bald eagles, Channel Islands National Park page (NPS, California) | NPS, Channel Islands National Park | |
| When they are adults | At five to six years, usually when the head and tail feathers turn white. | Bald eagles, Channel Islands National Park page (NPS, California) | NPS, Channel Islands National Park | |
| Largest nest on record | 10 feet across and 20 feet tall, in St. Petersburg, Florida. | Single record nest cited on the Channel Islands page | NPS, Channel Islands National Park | |
| Males and females | Same plumage, but females are 25 percent larger than males. | Bald eagles, Channel Islands National Park page (NPS, California) | NPS, Channel Islands National Park |
In the sources’ own words
How long they live
National Park Service, Channel Islands National Park, Bald Eagle“Bald eagles can live a long time, with a longevity record of 28 years in the wild and 36 years in captivity.”
Scope: Bald eagles, Channel Islands National Park page (NPS, California)
What they eat
National Park Service, Channel Islands National Park, Bald Eagle“The bald eagle's diet is opportunistic and varied, but most feed mainly on fish.”
“When fish sources are unavailable, eagles may rely largely on carrion, especially in winter…”
“Mammalian prey includes rabbits, hares, raccoons, muskrats, beavers, and deer fawns.”
“Preferred avian prey includes grebes, alcids, ducks, gulls, coots, egrets, and geese.”
Scope: Bald eagles, Channel Islands National Park page (NPS, California)
Where they live
National Park Service, Channel Islands National Park, Bald Eagle“Bald eagles typically can be found near large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply and old-growth trees for nesting.”
Scope: Bald eagles, Channel Islands National Park page (NPS, California)
Range
National Park Service, Channel Islands National Park, Bald Eagle“Its range includes most of Canada and Alaska, all of the contiguous United States, and northern Mexico.”
Scope: Bald eagles across North America, as stated on the Channel Islands page
Do they migrate?
National Park Service, Channel Islands National Park, Bald Eagle“Northern eagles are migratory…”
“…southern birds are resident, remaining on their breeding territory all year.”
Scope: Bald eagles, Channel Islands National Park page (NPS, California)
Eggs and chicks
National Park Service, Channel Islands National Park, Bald Eagle“The female lays one to three eggs with a usual clutch size of two eggs.”
“The eggs are incubated for approximately 35 days, and the young eagles fledge 10 - 12 weeks after hatching.”
Scope: Bald eagles, Channel Islands National Park page (NPS, California)
When they are adults
National Park Service, Channel Islands National Park, Bald Eagle“Bald eagles become sexually mature at five to six years with maturity usually corresponding to when their head and tail feathers become white.”
Scope: Bald eagles, Channel Islands National Park page (NPS, California)
Largest nest on record
National Park Service, Channel Islands National Park, Bald Eagle“The largest bald eagle nest on record, in St. Petersburg, Florida, was 10 feet in diameter and 20 feet tall.”
Scope: Single record nest cited on the Channel Islands page
Males and females
National Park Service, Channel Islands National Park, Bald Eagle“Males and females are identical in plumage coloration, but reversed sexual dimorphism, which occurs in many raptors, is evident in the species in that females are 25 percent larger than males.”
Scope: Bald eagles, Channel Islands National Park page (NPS, California)
What these sources do not say
- An average lifespan. The page gives only record ages.
- Wingspan or weight.