Bird of the Week: Bald Eagle

As celebrations for the Fourth of July happen across the United States, there is no better time for this week’s featured bird: the bald eagle. The national bird of the United States and sacred to many Native American cultures, this unmistakable bird of prey has majestic plumage and a regal bearing. Once nearly extinct, it is now making a strong comeback across North America and was removed from the endangered species list in 1995.

While many birders can recognize a bald eagle on sight, they can be harder to identify by sound because of misperceptions spread through movies. Whenever a bald eagle is pictured soaring above the mountains or along a river, a long, powerful bird call can be heard – but it’s not a bald eagle. The raptor call the Hollywood uses most often is actually a red-tailed hawk, regardless of the bird pictured onscreen.

Is a bald eagle on your life list? Share your sightings in the comments!

Bald Eagle
Photo © Paul Friel