America’s national bird has been on the endangered list for many years before continued conservation acts have steadied its population growth, particularly in Alabama.
It still can’t be said that bald eagles are abundant anywhere in the U.S., but they maintain a seasonal presence throughout Yellowhammer State.
The bald eagle’s unmistakeable profile makes it one of the most recognizable birds in the world: a white head with piercing yellow eyes, a prominent yellow beak claws, and a dark body that might be brown or black with light tones at the feather tips.
Their tails are usually the same white as their heads. The ‘bald’ name is a bit of a misnomer, referring to the color white rather than a lack of feathers on their heads.
Like the golden eagle, these rare birds are among the largest birds in North America, capable of subduing animals as large as deer, wolves, and farm livestock.
The nest of a bald eagle is also unmistakable; these are massive gatherings of stick and dirt, perched at the top of the tallest trees or on mountain cliffs, often a dozen times larger than the adult eagle(s) who built it.
Bald eagles are dangerously protective of their nests, though, and have been known to swoop on any being who comes within their proximity.
Signage in protected areas will usually express warnings over eagle territory, but this can’t be said for the remote, unregulated areas between.
Bald eagles are also recognizable in flight due to the sheer size of their wingspans (similar to golden eagles), and their distinct screeching calls.
Bald eagles have no aversion to scavenging carrion, unlike their golden counterparts who eat only what they catch.