By: WK

Bird of Prey

Physical featuresPhysical features The Bald Eagle is a bird that is 3 The Bald Eagle is a bird that is 3

ft. tall with a wingspan of 7 ft. ft. tall with a wingspan of 7 ft. long.long.

Brown and black feathers on its Brown and black feathers on its body and white tail and head body and white tail and head feathers.feathers.

Razor sharp beak Razor sharp beak Four claws, called talons on Four claws, called talons on

each of two feeteach of two feet Yellow eyes with black pupils on Yellow eyes with black pupils on

it’s head.it’s head. They weigh 5 -15 lbs.They weigh 5 -15 lbs.

SpeciesSpecies • The bald eagle isn’t a The bald eagle isn’t a

mammal.mammal.

• Bald Eagles are a Bird of Bald Eagles are a Bird of Prey!!!!Prey!!!!

• The scientific name for The scientific name for the bald eagle is the bald eagle is haliaeetus leucocephalus haliaeetus leucocephalus

• Some other animals in Some other animals in the bird family are the the bird family are the falcon, the hawk, coastal falcon, the hawk, coastal birds, sea birds and birds, sea birds and many other birds many other birds

Lifespan and endangeredLifespan and endangered The Bald Eagle’s lifespan is about 15 years in the wild and about 30 The Bald Eagle’s lifespan is about 15 years in the wild and about 30

years in captivity!years in captivity! The Bald Eagle almost died out from something called DDT. DDT is a The Bald Eagle almost died out from something called DDT. DDT is a

poison that is used to kill bugs that eat farmers cropspoison that is used to kill bugs that eat farmers crops The Bald Eagle recently got removed from the endangered list.The Bald Eagle recently got removed from the endangered list.

Habitat and climate The Bald Eagle can live in both warm and cold

climates, but in cold climates it must puff its feathers so it can stay warm.

It lives near coastal areas. It also lives on mountain plateaus Eagles live in deciduous and conifer forests

reproductionreproduction

The Bald Eagle usually mates for life at 5-6 years old.The Bald Eagle usually mates for life at 5-6 years old.

It also lays two eggs at 5-6 years old.It also lays two eggs at 5-6 years old.

When the eggs hatch the eaglets look totally different than their parents.When the eggs hatch the eaglets look totally different than their parents.

They are brownish/blackish feathers and their head is not whiteThey are brownish/blackish feathers and their head is not white

When they are born they don’t actually have any feathersWhen they are born they don’t actually have any feathers

The Bald Eagle leaves its nest at 3 years old!The Bald Eagle leaves its nest at 3 years old!

Prey and predatorPrey and predatorPreyPrey

Eaglets are prey of raccoons.Eaglets are prey of raccoons. Humans kill Bald EaglesHumans kill Bald Eagles

PredatorPredatorEagles mostly eat:Eagles mostly eat:•fish:fish:•RabbitsRabbits•MiceMice•SnakesSnakes•DuckDuck•CarrionCarrionIt also steals from other nests.It also steals from other nests.

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Food!Food! The Bald Eagle is a carnivore because it eats other The Bald Eagle is a carnivore because it eats other

animals and dead animals too.animals and dead animals too. Sometimes it steals food from other birds.Sometimes it steals food from other birds. The Bald Eagle gets its food by diving down at high The Bald Eagle gets its food by diving down at high

speeds, grabbing its prey with its talons and lifting it off speeds, grabbing its prey with its talons and lifting it off the ground and going home.the ground and going home.

behaviorbehavior The Bald Eagle dives to attract The Bald Eagle dives to attract

females.females. It rips apart food with its beak.It rips apart food with its beak. It is very violent.It is very violent. It migrates.It migrates. Nice when captive.Nice when captive. Eagles live with a familyEagles live with a family They hunt aloneThey hunt alone They dive to catch foodThey dive to catch food

Physical adaptationPhysical adaptation

The Bald Eagles’ brown The Bald Eagles’ brown feathers help it blend in with feathers help it blend in with the trees.the trees.

Razor sharp beak and talons Razor sharp beak and talons help it catch and kill foodhelp it catch and kill food

It has wings to fly which also It has wings to fly which also goes with catching and killing goes with catching and killing its food. It also helps them get its food. It also helps them get away from predators.away from predators.

The Bald Eagles white tail and The Bald Eagles white tail and head feathers sometimes help head feathers sometimes help it blend in with the clouds.it blend in with the clouds.

Behavior adaptationBehavior adaptation The Bald Eagle grabs The Bald Eagle grabs

food with its talons food with its talons It dives down to get It dives down to get

its food which it its food which it grabs and carries to grabs and carries to its nest.its nest.

In winter it fluffs up In winter it fluffs up its feathers to help it its feathers to help it stay warm in winter.stay warm in winter.

Physiological adaptationPhysiological adaptation Some physiological adaptations Some physiological adaptations

for the Bald Eagle are:for the Bald Eagle are: its sharp eyesight which helps it its sharp eyesight which helps it

see food over 2 miles away.see food over 2 miles away. its sharp teeth to help it to rip its sharp teeth to help it to rip

apart prey.apart prey. its flexor and semitendinosus its flexor and semitendinosus

muscles help it to liftoff.muscles help it to liftoff.

Fun factsFun facts Bald means white.Bald means white. Some people believed that a Bald Eagle could carry away a child! Some people believed that a Bald Eagle could carry away a child! The Bald Eagle is the United States’ National symbolThe Bald Eagle is the United States’ National symbol The buffalo, the bald eagle and wild turkey all ran for nation symbol.The buffalo, the bald eagle and wild turkey all ran for nation symbol.