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The Mating Habits of Bald Eagles

The bald eagle is one of the largest birds of prey found in North America, with a wingspan of around 7 feet and weighing around 9 lbs. for males and 12 to13 lbs. for females. As the national symbol of the U.S. it is an easily recognizable bird with a white head and tail and a dark brown body and wings. Bald eagles are usually found near large bodies of water, frequently along the coast or close to lakes. Although these birds will eat small mammals and other birds, they also eat a lot of fish.

Pairs
- When a bald eagle finds a mate, they generally stay together for life. If one of the pair dies, however, the remaining eagle will find a new partner. When it is about 4 or 5 years old the eagle reaches sexual maturity and starts its search for a mate. The courtship and bonding rituals are extensive and often involve aerial displays. When it finds a mate, the mating and egg-laying season generally takes place from late winter to early spring.
Nests
- Bald eagles build large nests called eyries high on cliffs or tall trees. These nests are generally around 5 feet in diameter but they can be as large as 9 feet. As well as staying with the same breeding partner, pairs of eagles also return to the same nest every year. If it has been damaged or destroyed by bad weather, the eagles will rebuild the nest as close to the original site as they can. The eagles are very protective of their nests and closely guard the 1- to 2-square-mile territory that they are centered in.
Eggs
- Bald eagles lay between one and three eggs, most commonly two. The eggs are laid one at a time, with a few days in between each one, but over a period of no more than one week. The female is mainly responsible for incubating the eggs. She does this for around three-quarters of the incubation time of 35 days. The egg that was laid first is generally the first to hatch.
Chicks
- If three eggs are laid it is very rare that all three chicks will survive. Competition for food is fierce, and it is not uncommon for the first hatched chick to kill its siblings. This is especially true of female hatchlings as they are bigger than the males. The newly hatched chicks, or eaglets are completely reliant on their parents for protection. They are covered in downy gray feathers and their legs are too weak to support their weight. The chicks' diet consists of tiny pieces of meat offered to them by their parents, and they grow rapidly, adding a pound to their weight every four to five days.

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