The bald eagle is a majestic bird of prey that is native to North America. With its snowy white head and tail feathers and dark brown body and wings, the bald eagle is a distinctive sight in flight. When soaring through the sky, a bald eagle holds its broad wings flat and level. The wingspan of an adult bald eagle can be up to 7 feet wide. This allows the bird to catch updrafts and smoothly ride the wind currents.
Wing Shape
A bald eagle’s wings are broad and flat when fully extended. The wings are designed for powerful flight. The broad surface area of the wings allows the eagle to stay aloft while expending minimal effort. The wings are held flat and straight in flight. When flapping, the wings move up and down in steady, rhythmic strokes. The flight feathers at the ends of the wings are spread apart like fingers to create slots that help provide lift.
Tail Shape
The tail feathers of a bald eagle are also iconic. The tail is short in comparison to the large wings. The tail feathers are longer in the center and taper towards the outside. When fanned out straight behind, the tail has a rounded shape. This shape allows the tail to provide stability and act as a rudder as the bird maneuvers through the air. The white color of the tail stands out against the darker body, making the bald eagle easy to identify.
Head Position
A bald eagle typically holds its head upright, perpendicular to its body, when in flight. The head is large and white, contrasting with the darker brown body. The distinctive white head is easy to spot from below as the eagle flies overhead. The powerful yellow beak is held shut. The eyes face forward, allowing the bird to keenly observe the ground below as it flies. The head may swivel from side to side to scan the landscape but is mostly held steady.
Body Posture
The body of a bald eagle is compact and narrow in flight. The wings are attached along the entire back of the body. The broad chest tapers back to a narrow tail. The legs trail behind the body and the feet are folded up with talons tucked in during flight. The body is held horizontally in flight – not tipped up or down. A straight, level body position together with flat wings provides aerodynamic efficiency. The eagle’s flight style is methodical and direct. There are no flashy aerial maneuvers.
Flight Modes
Bald eagles utilize different flight modes and wing positions depending on the purpose. Here are some of the common flight modes:
- Gliding: Wings held flat and stationary to ride air currents. Minimal flapping.
- Soaring: Wings held at slight upward angle to gain altitude in updrafts.
- Flapping: Moderate flapping for straightforward flight. Slow and steady wingbeats.
- Flapping fast: Rapid flapping used for taking off, landing, and accelerating.
- Coasting: Wings tucked back to body at slight downward angle after flapping.
Beating the Wind
When flying into a strong headwind, bald eagles will flap harder and more frequently to maintain speed and altitude. The wings are held flatter and thrust more forcefully downward on each beat. The eagle leans slightly forward, holding its head low. The body presents less resistance going against the wind. The strong legs are held straight back. Every few wingbeats the bird pauses briefly to glide for a moment.
Soaring Eagle Spotting Tips
Here are some tips for spotting and identifying bald eagles soaring in flight:
- Scan open habitats like large lakes, rivers, and marshes
- Look high overhead for broad, flat wings
- Focus on white head and tail contrasting with dark body
- Note wings held straight and level, not in a dihedral “V” shape
- Watch for white underside of wings flashing in sunlight
- Listen for high-pitched whistling and chirping
Taking Off
From a standing start on the ground, bald eagles use a burst of rapid wingbeats to launch themselves into the air. Several quick, powerful downward thrusts lift the bird upward. Once airborne, the eagle continues beating its wings hard and fast to accelerate to flight speed. The legs swing backward and the feet clench as the bird gains altitude. Within a few seconds the eagle transitions to slower, steadier flapping flight.
Landing
To land, a bald eagle begins reducing altitude and speed. The wings are held at a forward angle to control the descent. As the ground approaches, the eagle fully extends its legs and lowers its feet. The talons spread wide, ready to clamp onto a branch or rock perch. With wings spread wide, the bird stalls just before impact and drops straight down for a gentle landing. The wings continue to beat slowly for a few moments until the eagle folds them against its body and comes to rest.
Hunting Flight
When scanning for prey from the air, bald eagles fly low and slow. The wings flap languidly to maintain a low cruising speed for maximum visibility. The head turns slowly from side to side, methodically scanning the landscape below. Once prey is sighted, the eagle transitions to a faster, direct flight. It beats its wings harder while aiming for the target. The feet are extended forward, talons ready to strike and snatch up unsuspecting prey.
Displaying Flight
During the breeding season, bald eagles perform dramatic aerial displays. They fly high and perform acrobatic moves like loops, rolls and cartwheels to impress potential mates. Males begin high circling flights, riding thermals in wide spirals while emitting loud whistling calls. If a female is interested, she may join and the pair grasp talons and swoop together in a death spiral before releasing and flying side-by-side.
Migratory Flight
Northern bald eagles migrate from Alaska and Canada to wintering grounds in the lower 48 states. Their migratory flight is direct and purposeful. They utilize thermals and updrafts to gain altitude and soar for long distances. The eagles fly alone or in loose flocks. They minimize wing flapping and glide for miles at a time, conserving energy on their long journeys.
Evasive Flight
When threatened, a bald eagle can quickly take evasive flight action. The head hunches down and disappears against the shoulders. The powerful legs swing forward under the body for added speed. The wings beat fast and hard as the eagle accelerates and gains altitude. Zigzagging movements and banks from side to side make it harder for predators to follow. Once safely away, the eagle returns to normal cruising flight.
Juvenile Eagle Flight
Young bald eagles have mottled brown and white plumage. They fledge from the nest at 10-12 weeks old but their flight skills are clumsy for the first few months. A juvenile takes wobbly flight paths with uneven flapping and frequent coasting. The head and tail tend to wobble from side to side. The young birds improve steadily and after a few months begin flying skillfully like the adults.
Eagle Flight Speed
In flapping flight, bald eagles generally fly 20-40 mph. They can reach faster speeds when diving at prey. Here are estimated bald eagle flight speeds in different modes:
- Cruising in flight: 20-30 mph
- Flapping flight speed: 35-40 mph
- Diving speed: 75-99 mph
- Maximum recorded dive speed: 100-150 mph
Wingbeat Rate
Bald eagles flap their wings on average about 3-4 wingbeats per second during routine flight:
- Gliding: 0 wingbeats per second
- Soaring: 1-2 wingbeats per second
- Cruising: 2-4 wingbeats per second
- Flapping fast: up to 6 wingbeats per second
Slower wingbeat rates allow the eagle to fly efficiently for hours without tiring. More rapid wingbeats provide the extra power needed for fast acceleration, takeoff, and climbing.
Wingspan
The wingspan is the distance from one wingtip to the other on a bald eagle. Here are average wingspans by age and sex:
- Female bald eagle: Up to 8 feet
- Male bald eagle: Up to 7 feet
- Juvenile bald eagle: Up to 6-7 feet
The broad wingspan provides a large surface area that gives the lift needed for the eagle’s heavy body weight. The wide wings work like airplane wings, generating upward lift force when air flows over them.
Conclusion
The bald eagle is a powerful and agile flier. Key traits that make it distinctive in flight include broad, flat wings; short, fanned tail; upright head; narrow, aerodynamic body; and rhythmic, steady wingbeats. The eagle’s large wingspan allows it to efficiently soar, glide, and cruise at moderate speeds. Watching a bald eagle fly overhead is thrilling, and being able to identify it by sight makes the experience even more rewarding.