Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

The Bald Eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus, from Greek ἁλι - hali " sea water ", αἰετός aietos "Adler", λευκός leukos "knows" κεφαλή kephale "head" ) is a large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which. In appearance and lifestyle of the type is very similar to the Eurasian Eagle, the two species are therefore united by some authors to a super species. The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States and, therefore, to see their seal.

Description

Bald eagles are after the California condor, the largest bird of prey in North America. Their body length is 70-90 cm, wingspan from 1.80 to 2.50 m and the weight 2.5 to 6.3 kg. Plumage coloration and proportions are very similar to the Eagle, the color of the bald eagle is however significantly more contrast. The head and neck, the tail and the lower and upper tail-coverts are white, the body and wings are dark brown. Feet, beak, cere, and the iris of the eyes are bright yellow. The fledged young birds are very similar to the young birds of the Eagle, they are brown with dark gray beak and brown iris. Best distinguishing features to the young eagles are the white axillaries and the largely unspotted belly.

Dissemination

Originally, the bald eagle over the whole mainland of North America was widespread. By tracking the human circulation in the USA today is essentially reduced to the East and the West Coast, as well as Alaska, also settled the way large parts of Canada. The Bald Eagle lives mostly in rivers, lakes or on the coast. The largest population there in Alaska, the second largest in Florida, in Florida seventy percent of the St. Johns River live. One sometimes meets him in Central Arizona, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Nutrition

The bald eagle feeds like the eagle mainly of fish and water birds, mammals, he uses less frequently than prey. It eats carrion, especially in winter often. As the eagle also parasitizes the bald eagle common in other species. The hunting methods are roughly similar to those of the eagle.

Reproduction

The nests ( nests ) he builds like the eagles on old trees or in rock walls of thick branches, the well is lined with moss and grass. Old nests can be up to 450 kg. The clutch consists of one to three eggs, the hatching period lasts 33-36 days. The young eagles fledge after ten to eleven weeks.

Threats and conservation

By tracking the human species was eradicated by 1950 in many parts of North America, further inventory declined considerably in the 1950s and 1960s back through the use of the insecticide DDT. Since about 1980, the stock has recovered significantly in the United States outside of Alaska lived approximately 1200 breeding pairs in 1980, in the early 1990s already 4,000-5,000 breeding pairs. In the early 1990s, the total stock was estimated at 110000-120000 individuals. The greatest threat to the species is habitat destruction.

Since 1940, bald eagles are in the United States endangered species list. Under the pressure of DDT Follow the level of protection in 1970 was massively increased. The type was in 1973 one of the indicator species for the adoption of the Endangered Species Act. The protective measures and the encouraging recovery type was discharged on 4 June 2007 from the protection under the Endangered Species Act. Living and dead bald eagles and their body parts must be in the United States continue to have only with permission. This is especially true for Indians who use eagle feathers for religious and cultural purposes. The National Eagle Repository in Denver, Colorado, to obtain permits and is entitled to the bodies of those found moribund animals.