The bald eagle is a type of eagle that is native to North America. The bald eagle is typically found near large bodies of water that have an abundant food supply and are close to old-growth trees which the bald eagle uses to make their nests in. Contrary to popular belief, bald eagles are not bald but have a white head, a much older use of the term bald. Adults have mostly brown feathers with a white head and tail, there are no distinctions between the male and females in plumage, but the female of the species are approximately 25% larger than the males.
Bald eagles have national significance in a number of countries in the Americas. They are the national bird of the United States of America, appearing on its seal. At one poin
t, during the late 20th century, the species was at danger of becoming locally extinct in a number of regions. This led the government to classify the species as protected and has since allowed the re-population of the species. Currently, bald eagles are not classified as endangered or threatened but remain subject to regulation nonetheless.
Bald eagles are powerful flyers that soar on thermal convection currents. It is capable of reaching speeds of up to 70 km/h when gliding and flapping, and almost 50 km/h when carrying fish. Diving is where the bald eagle excels and it is capable of reaching speeds of 160 km/h when it has enough time to build speed. The speed is particularly useful to the bald eagle while it is hunting its main food source of fish, as the fish have small amounts of time to escape.
