Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Our nation’s symbol, this powerful bird of prey almost went extinct. It has rebounded in recent years, with the Minnesota-Wisconsin border hosting one of the most successful recoveries.

What They Eat
Fish, ducks, and dead animals (carrion) such as deer.

Where They Live
Forested areas near water. In Minnesota, bald eagles nest mostly in the central part of the state, and in winter they can be found along the Mississippi River.

What They Do
Bald eagles nest and hunt along the waterways.  A few migrate, but many prefer to winter in Minnesota, hunting for fish in ice-free stretches of river. 

How They’re Doing
Recovering but still protected by law.  By 2006, 1100 pairs of bald eagles nested in Minnesota, up from only about 480 in the entire United States just 30 years earlier.

Bald Eagle

Young bald eagles are often confused with golden eagles because of their mottled brown color. There are two easy ways to tell them apart-habitat and plumage:

• Bald eagles are usually found near water. Golden eagles prefer open rangeland. Golden eagles are not native to Minnesota, but may visit parts of the state in winter.
• Young bald eagles lack feathers on their lower legs (tarsi). The white mottling on their head, body, wing linings, or tail feathers appears “dirty” white, rather than clean and crisp like mottling on the golden eagle.

On June 20, 1782, the bald eagle was voted our national symbol. Today, twelve states include the bald eagle on their official emblems.

Because bald eagles occasionally “pirate” food from other species, Benjamin Franklin thought they were of "bad moral character" and a bad choice for our national symbol. He suggested the wild turkey instead.

Being called “eagle eye” is a compliment. Like all raptors, bald eagles have keen vision-at least four times that of a person with perfect vision.

Bald eagles can fly to altitudes of 10,000 feet, and reach speeds of 50 mph when hunting and 100 mph when diving!

Helpful hints for viewing the animals

At the Minnesota Zoo you have two opportunities to see bald eagles--the Bald Eagle exhibit on the Medtronic Minnesota Trail and our KAYTEE World of Birds Show, featuring rare and exotic birds from around the world, including our bald eagle Tempest!  

Current Show Times

Bald Eagle

Care at the Zoo

Because of an injury suffered while in the wild, one of our bald eagles can’t fly more than a few feet. Instead, she hops from perch to perch. Unfortunately, too much time perched in the same position can leave a bird at risk for foot problems. To avoid this, zookeepers provide the eagle with different types of perches both natural and man-made. Having perches of different sizes and textures helps keep the eagle’s feet healthy. 

Without the ability to fly to get exercise, zookeepers have to monitor the bird’s weight carefully to prevent her from becoming overweight. But that doesn’t mean our bird doesn’t eat well! The eagle receives a variety of prey items including rats, fish, chicks, and quail. Her favorite (and the most expensive item on the menu) is quail.

The familiar saying “birds of a feather flock together” isn’t always true. Some bird species prefer to live alone, only coming together while nesting. Although eagles can sometimes be housed together, birds have individual personalities and sometimes prefer to live alone. This has been the case with the zoo’s eagles. 

Meet the Animals

“Bald Eagle # 9566”

This female bald eagle is on loan to the Minnesota Zoo from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She was found in 1997 in Wisconsin suffering from a broken wing and lead poisoning. After being taken to the University of Minnesota Raptor Center, veterinarians discovered her wing injury was old and had healed in way that made fixing it impossible. Because she would never be able to fly, she could not be released back into the wild.

After a year of care at the Raptor Center, the eagle came to live at the Minnesota Zoo. Although we are not sure of her exact age, this eagle was in adult plumage (feathers) when she came to the Minnesota Zoo in 1998. That means she was at least 4-5 years old at the time. She has been here for more than 14 years, which means she is at least 18-19 years old.

Where to see her:
Medtronic Minnesota Trail.

“Tempest”

Our second bald eagle started out as part of a reintroduction program in Nebraska. Her egg was taken from a nest in Florida in December 1984, and hatched in captivity in January 1985 in Oklahoma. Shortly after being released into the wild in the spring of 1985, she was found with a broken leg. Once healed, she was re-released in August of 1985, only to be found weeks later, this time perched on a house and too weak to fly. Handlers determined that she must have imprinted on humans while being treated for her broken leg, and was unsuitable for life in the wild.

Tempest has been used in more types of programs than any other bird here at the zoo. She was even selected to be one of two representative bald eagles at the White House on July 02, 1999 when President Clinton announced during a press conference the plan to remove the bald eagle from the Endangered Species List. It takes a lot of daily work (2-4 months) before Tempest and a new trainer can develop a trusted relationship. Once familiar with a trainer, she does well in almost any situation, standing calmly on the glove, traveling perfectly in a travel container, and allowing strangers to get close. Tempest is very vocal, especially in places she considers “her” territory and in new situations.

Status in the Wild

As a result of habitat destruction, illegal shooting, pesticides, and poisoning, bald eagles were once endangered or eliminated throughout most of the lower 48 states. On June 28, 2007, after 40 years of successful conservation efforts measures, the American bald eagle was taken off the Endangered Species List. At the time of delisting in 2007, there were an estimated 10,000 nesting pairs in the lower 48 states, with 1500 pairs in Minnesota. Bald Eagles are still protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, making it illegal to kill or possess an eagle (dead or alive) or any of its parts (including feathers).

 

Bald Eagle

The bald eagle is our nation’s symbol. It is one of eight species belonging to the genus Haliaeetus, (the "fish" or "sea" eagles), and the only member of the genus that is found regularly in North America. Adult bald eagles have dark brown body feathers, distinctive white feathers on their head and tail, and bright yellow eyes. They reach their adult plumage gradually over a period of about 5 years. Like other raptors, these majestic birds have taloned feet, keen vision, and a sharp, hooked beak for ripping and tearing prey.

Similar Species
There are two recognized subspecies of bald eagle-the northern (H. l. alascanus) and the southern (H. l. leucocephalus), with the two being distinguished by size (northern is larger) and geographic boundaries. There are seven other species in the genus Haliaeetus, five of which are similar to the American bald eagle. They are distinguished geographically and include: the white-bellied sea eagle (H. leucogaster); Sanford's sea eagle (H. sanfordi); the Madagascar fish eagle (H. vociferoides); the white-tailed sea eagle (H. albicilla, sometimes called the Steller's sea eagle); and the African fish eagle (H. vocifer).

Habitat and Distribution
Bald eagles live near lakes, rivers, and in coastal regions. They tend to congregate near open water in the winter and when migrating. Bald eagles range throughout the 48 contiguous states, Alaska, and Canada. They are not considered truly migratory, although some northern birds display considerable seasonal movement moving southward in search of food and open water.

Diet
Bald eagles feed primarily on fish. They also eat birds (especially waterfowl), small to mid-size mammals, and carrion. If the opportunity arises, they will readily steal food from osprey or other eagles.

Habits and Adaptations
A powerful and agile flier, the bald eagle flies with its broad wings flat instead of tilted upwards as in vultures. They hunt by perching high in trees near water. Using binocular vision to locate prey (usually fish near the water’s surface), they swoop down from above and snatch it up with their powerful talons.

Reproduction
The bald eagle builds one of the largest nests of any bird species, averaging 5 feet across, 3 feet deep, and weighing hundreds of pounds. Large, old trees are most often chosen for nesting sites, both for their support, and for the commanding view they offer of the surrounding territory. Courtship flights are elaborate and dramatic, often including harrowing dives and locking of talons. In Minnesota, bald eagles starting nesting in March. The female lays 1-3 eggs and both parents share incubation duties (approximately 35 days). If multiple eggs survive to hatch, the weakest in the nest will often starve or be killed by stronger chicks, especially if food is in short supply. Eaglets are typically ready to leave the nest at 10-12 weeks of age.