Eagles and More EaglesEagles and More Eagles The world's 59 species of eagles are found on every continent except Antarctica. There are four major groups of eagles: fish eagles, booted eagles, snake eagles and giant forest eagles. America's eagles are the Bald Eagle, which is a fish eagle, and the Golden Eagle, which is a booted eagle. Both Golden and Bald Eagles reside in the United States. The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus Leucocephalus) is the only eagle species living strictly in North America. It is a fish eagle that has a presence in every state in the U.S.A. except Hawaii. The Bald Eagle can have a wing span of up to eight feet and can weigh up to 15 pounds. It inhabits areas near large bodies of water where there are plenty of fish to eat and tall trees in which to nest and roost. Bald Eagles are monogamous and remain faithful to their mate until death. Females lay one to three eggs annually in the spring time, and the incubation period is approximately 35 days. |
 Young (immature) Bald Eagles are dark brown in color when they fledge the nest at about 12 weeks of age, and the head and tail feathers turn predominantly white in their fourth or fifth year. Bald Eagles can live up to 40 years in the wild and longer in captivity. They are primarily fish eaters. Other fish eagles that can be found outside the United States around the world include: White-bellied Sea Eagle (White-breasted Sea Eagle), Solomon Sea Eagle (Sanford's Sea Eagle), African Fish Eagle, Madagascar Fish Eagle, Pallas' Fish Eagle (Band-tailed Fish Eagle), White-tailed (Sea) Eagle (Gray Sea Eagle), Lesser Fishing Eagle, Greater Fishing Eagle (Gray headed Fishing Eagle) and Steller's Sea Eagle. |
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The Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) is a splendid
example of a Giant Forest Eagle. It is a lovely grey, black and white bird with a
prominent crest. It is endowed with thick legs and massive feet. It is perhaps the largest
eagle in the world, with some females weighing 20 lbs. or more. It lives in the
rainforests of Central and South America, and preys primarily on birds and various
mammals, including sloths and monkeys. It builds a huge stick nest in the crotch of an
emergent forest tree. It is currently a threatened species due to the destruction of the
rainforests. Other Giant Forest Eagles that can be found around the world include: the
highly endangered Philippine Eagle, the Guiana Crested Eagle, and the New Guinea Eagle. 
The Bateleur Eagle (Terathopius ecaudatus) is an
abberrent, but well known member of the Serpent or Snake Eagle group. Like other members
of the group, the Bateleur Eagle has a large head covered with long feathers and stocky
legs with short stubby toes - ideal for grasping snakes. Unlike some Snake Eagles, the
Bateleur, which is "acrobat" in French, spends a lot of time soaring. It may
cover 100 miles or more a day in search of food, which includes carrion and animals such
as antelope, mice, birds and various reptiles. The Bateleur is a large, handsome jet black
eagle with white under the wings, rufous tail and back, gray on the shoulders, bright
crimson face and legs, and a black beak. Females are around 24 inches in length, and males
are slightly smaller. Wingspans range from 6 to 7 feet. The Bateleur is found in the tree
and brush savanna throughout Africa, south of the Sahara. Other Snake Eagles that can be
found around the world include: Short-toed Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, East African Snake
Eagle (Southern Banded Snake Eagle), Banded Snake Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Kinabalu
Serpent Eagle, Nicobar Serpent Eagle, Andaman Serpent Eagle, Congo Serpent Eagle (African
Serpent Eagle) and Madagascar Serpent Eagle.