Name: bald originally meant white-headed. 

Scientific Name: Haliaeetus Ieucocephalus means white headed sea eagle.

Color: Male and female bald eagles are identical in color.  The distinctive white head and tail mark an adult.  Younger bald eagles are almost solid brown, although a general mottling in the body feathers and a light coloration in the head and tail develop in older immatures.  Both young and adult bald eagles have yellow legs.  The young birds have a dark beak and black eyes, both of which turn bright yellow as they become adults.  Bald Eagles require 4 to 5 years to reach full adult plumage.

Size: The Bald Eagle is one of nature's most impressive birds of prey.  Males generally measure 3 feet from head to tail, weigh 7 to 10 pounds and have a wing span of 6 to 7 feet.  Females are larger, some reaching 14 pounds with a wing span of up to 8 feet.

Nests: Nesting populations are gradually increasing in most areas of the county, including Texas.  Nests are usually located within one mile of large bodies of water, such as lakes, reservoirs, or rivers.  Bald Eagles build their nests in the tallest trees in an area, providing an unobstructed flight path to the nest.  Constructed primarily by the female, the typical nest consists of large sticks with softer materials, such as leaves, for the nest lining.  Nests are typically used for a number of years, with the birds adding nest material every year.  Bald Eagle nests are often large measuring up to 6 feet in width and weighing hundreds of pounds.  The record nest measured 20 feet deep, 10 feet wide and weighed 2 tons.

Eggs:  Peak egg-laying occurs in December with hatching primarily in January.  The female lays a single clutch of 1 to 3 eggs -- the usual, clutch is 2 eggs.  Incubation begins when the first egg is laid and usually lasts 34 to 36 days.  Incubation is provided by both parents.  The young generally fledge in 10 to 12 weeks.  The adults continue to feed them for another 4 to 6 weeks while they learn to hunt.

Mates:  Bald Eagles reach sexual maturity at 4 to 6 years of age.  They are monogamous and are believed to mate for life.  however, if one of the pair dies, the surviving bird will accept another mate. 

Life Span:  Bald Eagles are believed to live up to 30 years or more in the wild.  In captivity, some have lived 50 years.

Foods:  Fish comprise the bulk of the bald eagle's diet.  In midwinter, dead or crippled waterfowl and other wildlife become important food sources.  Their prey usually within 3 to 5 pounds. 

Eyesight:  The bald eagle's eyesight is five to six times sharper than a human's.

Speed:  Eagles fly 20 to 60 miles per hour in normal flight and dive at more than 100 miles per hour.

Similar Species: Immature bald eagles are often confused with golden eagles, which also are nearly solid brown.  One characteristic that sets the two species apart is the legs.  The bald eagle's legs are naked, while golden eagles have feathers all the way down to the talons.  In flight, bald eagles soar with flat wings and their wing beats are slow and smooth while golden eagles soar with their wings raised in a slight "V".