The female bald eagle is a majestic bird of prey that is an important national symbol of the United States of America. Let’s take a closer look at what makes the female bald eagle unique.
Identification
The female bald eagle can be identified by its brown body feathers and lack of white head and tail feathers that are seen in male bald eagles. The female’s wingspan reaches up to 8 feet, making it one of the largest birds in North America. The beak, eyes, and feet are all yellow in color.
Females are larger than males. They weigh 8-14 pounds compared to the male’s weight of 6-10 pounds. Their body length ranges from 34-43 inches. Females also have thicker and longer talons than males.
Plumage
As juveniles, male and female bald eagles have mostly dark brown plumage. At 4-5 years old they develop the characteristic white head and tail feathers and yellow beak of an adult bald eagle. However, males will have a complete white head and tail while the female’s head and tail will still have some brown speckles and spots.
This speckled appearance remains until the bald eagle reaches adulthood at 5 years old. After this point, the female will retain some dark feathers while the male develops solid white head and tail plumage. The female bald eagle will never develop a fully white head and tail.
Nesting
Female bald eagles play a lead role in choosing nest sites and building nests. They prefer large sturdy trees near water sources like rivers, lakes, or coastlines. The nest starts out small but can reach up to 13 feet deep, 8 feet wide, and weigh over 1 ton after being reused and expanded on over multiple years.
The female lays 1-3 pale bluish-white eggs that incubate for about 35 days before hatching. She does the majority of incubating while the male bald eagle hunts and brings food back to the nest. Once the eaglets hatch, both parents hunt and share feeding responsibilities.
Hunting and Diet
Female bald eagles are skilled hunters and fishers. They eat mainly fish like salmon, bass, and catfish but also hunt mammals like rabbits, turtles, waterfowl, and small birds. Their excellent eyesight enables them to spot prey from far distances.
Females have thicker talons that help them snatch fish from the water’s surface while flying. They also swoop down and snatch prey on land. The strong beak helps tear food once caught. When food is scarce, they may eat carrion or steal prey from other eagles and birds.
Range and Habitat
Bald eagles live near large bodies of open water across North America. They can be found in Alaska, Canada, all over the continental United States, and northern Mexico.
Females occupy breeding territories that include areas near lakes, rivers, marshes, and coasts. They migrate seasonally based on food availability and weather. Northern bald eagles migrate south for winter while some southern populations are year-round residents.
Life Cycle
Female bald eagles reach sexual maturity at 4-5 years old. They return to breeding areas in spring and perform aerial displays to attract a mate. Once bonded with a male, the pair continues to use the same nesting territory for multiple seasons.
After laying eggs, the female incubates for about 35 days and also performs the majority of care for eaglets in the first 2 weeks after hatching. The male bald eagle assists with hunting and providing food. At 10-12 weeks old, eaglets will take their first flights and rely less on the parents over the following weeks.
Young bald eagles wander for 4-5 years before returning to find a mate and establish their own breeding territory. The lifespan in the wild is up to 28 years. In captivity, bald eagles may live over 50 years.
Threats and Conservation
The bald eagle population declined dramatically in the 1900s due to hunting, habitat destruction, and the use of pesticides like DDT. These chemicals caused the shells of eagle eggs to be very thin and prone to breakage, severely reducing birth rates.
The banning of DDT and increased conservation efforts allowed bald eagle numbers to rebound significantly. However, habitat loss, lead poisoning from bullets, collisions with vehicles and powerlines, and illegal shooting remain threats. The female bald eagle and its nest are protected under multiple laws in the United States and Canada.
Significance
The bald eagle is culturally significant to Native American tribes, inspiring awe with its size, power, and hunting prowess. Early European settlers were also impressed with the bald eagle and adopted it as a symbol of the new United States of America in 1782.
Images of the female bald eagle are less commonly used than the easily identifiable white-headed male. However, the wild female bald eagle is equally important in maintaining future generations of this cherished bird.
Conclusion
The female bald eagle plays a vital role in the breeding and survival of this iconic North American bird. Identifiable by her brown head and body, the female builds nests, incubates eggs, and cares for eaglets alongside her male mate. Her contributions ensure the next generation of bald eagles will take flight and continue representing freedom and wilderness for future generations.
The majestic female bald eagle remains an important cultural and ecological symbol after overcoming threats from hunting and environmental poisoning. With continued conservation, the future looks bright for her and her young to thrive across North America’s skies.
