Bald Eagle

The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a large bird of prey native to North America, recognized by the white-feathered head and tail of adults, which contrasts with its dark brown body and wings. It inhabits coasts, rivers, lakes, and wetlands from Alaska and northern Canada down through the contiguous United States and into northern Mexico, favoring areas with open water, tall trees for nesting, and reliable fish populations. As an apex predator and obligate scavenger, it helps regulate fish and waterbird populations and plays a significant role in nutrient cycling by consuming carrion, including beached marine mammals along coastal regions.

The species was listed as Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1978, primarily due to the widespread use of the pesticide DDT, which caused eggshell thinning and steep population declines throughout the mid-twentieth century. Following the ban of DDT in the United States in 1972 and decades of legal protection under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, populations recovered substantially, and the species was delisted in 2007. Today the main threats include lead poisoning from ingesting spent ammunition in carcasses, habitat loss along shorelines, and collision with vehicles and power lines. The IUCN Red List currently classifies it as Least Concern.