Home Nature Tours Wildlife of British Columbia Bald Eagles
Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
The bald eagle is a bird of prey indigenous to North America. It gets its name from the distinctive white colour of the adult's head feathers: baeld is the Old English word for “white.”
Bald eagles are very loyal and hatch their young in the same nest year after year. Each year, mating pairs add material to their nest, with some eventually weighing over two tonnes.
Bald eagles are particularly partial to salmon. To hunt, the eagle swoops down over the water and snatches the fish out of the water with its claws. They are determined hunters and will be dragged down into the water rather than lose a fish. Bald eagles are also known to steal prey from other birds in mid-flight.
