Bald eagles are found throughout North America. They live near water. A grown-up has a white head and tail and a brown body. A bald eagle's body is about 28 to 38 inches long, and females are larger than males. A big female can weigh as much as 14 pounds, about 6.5 kilograms.
An eagle sees at least four times better than a person. A hungry eagle waits on a favorite perch until it sees a fish near the surface of the water. A bald eagle is reported to dive at speeds up to about 100 miles per hour, or 160 kilometers per hour.
Then the eagle uses its talons. It grabs fish with the sharp talons on its toes. Sources say its grip is about 10 times as strong as a person's. An eagle can carry prey up to about half its own body weight.
Fish is a bald eagle's favorite food. It takes fish from near the surface and does not dive under the water. It also eats ducks and small animals such as rabbits.
In winter many bald eagles gather near rivers where salmon come to spawn. Spawn means to lay eggs.
Eagles build nests out of large sticks. A pair comes back to the same nest year after year and adds more sticks, twigs and grass. Some nests weigh as much as a ton. As of November 2026, the largest recorded bald eagle nest, found in Florida, was 20 feet deep.
Bald eagles are believed to pick one mate for life. A pair most often lays two eggs, and sometimes one or three. The eggs hatch after about 35 days. Young eagles stay in the nest for 10 to 12 weeks.
Bald eagles are old enough to breed at about 4 or 5 years of age. As of November 2026, a bald eagle can live up to about 30 years in the wild.
Words to know
- spawn: lay eggs
- talons: sharp claws
- perch: a high seat
- prey: hunted animals
The short version
The bald eagle is found throughout North America and lives near water. A grown-up has a white head and tail and a brown body. Fish is its favorite food, and it grabs fish with sharp talons. It builds its nest out of large sticks and comes back to it year after year.
Quick facts
- A bald eagle's body is about 28 to 38 inches long.
- A big female bald eagle can weigh as much as 14 pounds (about 6.5 kilograms).
- A bald eagle sees at least four times better than a person.
- A pair of bald eagles most often lays two eggs, which hatch after about 35 days.
- As of November 2026, a bald eagle can live up to about 30 years in the wild.
Do bald eagles dive under the water for fish?
No. A bald eagle takes fish from near the surface of the water and does not dive under it. It waits on a perch until it sees a fish, then grabs it with the sharp talons on its toes.
How big can a bald eagle nest get?
Some bald eagle nests weigh as much as a ton. A pair comes back to the same nest year after year and adds more sticks, twigs and grass. As of November 2026, the largest recorded nest, found in Florida, was 20 feet deep.
