Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Bald Eagle. Photo: Mike Lockheart, USFWS

Although once abundant in southern Canada, populations of this majestic bird have been lost as a result of human disturbance, habitat loss, chemical contamination, and persecution. Bald eagles require habitat which incorporates large trees near open water, little disturbance and relatively few inhabitants. Indeed, the bald eagle is highly sensitive to human activity. Besides its majestic presence and 2 m wingspan, this species is known to engage in a bizarre mating ritual, in which two eagles fly upwards, lock talons, and fall towards the earth while rotating, separating moments before crashing into the ground.

Distribution of Bald Eagle in Canada