Think of an eagle...what comes to mind? A large powerful bird of prey, swooping down and snatching up its next victim? Or maybe you imagine a beautiful and noble bird with very likable qualities. Actually, eagles are all of that and more. In the United States, the Bald Eagle is a symbol of justice, strength, and fairness. The Bald Eagle is after all, our national symbol. However, to the rest of the world the eagle may bring to mind many different images. That is because there are many different types of eagles. In fact there are about 59 different species of eagles throughout the world, and they can be found on every continent except Antarctica.
As members of the same species, the 59 different eagles share a lot of things in common. They are all predators or raptors, they are excellent fliers, and they all have excellent vision. However, it may come as a surprise that eagles come in all sorts of sizes and colors.
The word raptor comes from the latin word for a plunderer, stemming from raptare "to seize and carry away." In general raptors are predatory birds that have strong, hooked bills and strong grasping feet.
To better understand the Bald Eagle, it will help to learn about some of its worldly relatives.
Scientists have put eagles into four different groups. The Sea and Fish Eagles, the Snake Eagles, the Harpy Eagles, and the Booted Eagles.
The
Sea and Fish Eagles
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All of these birds are considered large or very large birds. There are 11 species in the world. Like their names imply, all of the eagles in this category live near water. Why? This type of eagle likes to eat fish and other animals that live in or near the water. Members of this group include the Steller's Sea Eagle, the White-Bellied Sea Eagle (shown), the African Fish Eagle, and the American Bald Eagle. |
The Snake Eagles
| There are 12 species of Snake Eagles in the world. These eagles primarily eat snakes, and can occasionally be seen snacking on frogs, lizards, and other reptiles and amphibians. They tend to be small to medium-sized. Where will you find these eagles? Well you find them in places where you find their food, such as forests, deserts, and in the plains. Some of the members of this group include the Crested Serpent Eagle, the Bateleur (shown), and the Brown Snake Eagles. |  |
The Harpy Eagles
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Look out! These are the biggest of all the eagles. There are six species that live in the rain forests of South America and the Philippines. What do they eat? These eagles are so enormous they can feed on large mammals such as monkeys or tree sloths. Female Harpy Eagles of South America can weigh over 20 pounds and have legs that are as big around as a child's wrist. Unfortunately, little is known about these eagles and most of them are endangered species. Among these giants are the Black Solitary Eagle, The Crowned Solitary Eagle, the New Guinea Crested Eagle, and of course the Harpy Eagle (shown). |
The Booted Eagles
| The Booted Eagles come in varying sizes. Some are almost as large as the Harpy Eagles, and some are smaller than a common crow weighing a little over a pound. They feed on everything from termites and small birds to large mammals such as small deer and carrion, which are animals that are already dead when an eagle finds them (road kill). However all Booted Eagles share one characteristic in common. They all have feathers that extend down to their feet like boots. This feature distinguishes them from all other eagles. The Golden Eagle (shown) of North America is one of the most common Booted Eagles in the United States, but others include the Bonelli's Eagle, the Ayres' Hawk Eagle, the Imperial Eagle, and the Lesser Spotted Eagle. |  |
The American Bald Eagle
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Certainly the most popular of all the eagles in the United States is the Bald Eagle. Do you remember which group of eagles the Bald Eagle is in? Bald Eagles are magnificent birds that are only found in North America. Although they are not the largest of the eagles, the Bald Eagle is still an impressive size. The female is larger than the male, as is the case with most of the other eagles of the world. The female weighs 10 - 14 pounds with a wing span of 6 to 7.5 feet. They stand on a perch about 3 to 3.5 feet tall. Probably the most distinguishing characteristic of the Bald Eagle is it's white head and tail. Is the eagle really bald? NO! The Bald Eagle was named by colonists, who used the old English word "balde," which means white, to describe this feature. The Bald Eagle has plenty of feathers on its head. |
