Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus

The *Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)* is widely distributed across most of North America. It is our national bird and a symbol of national pride in the United States. The species primarily feeds upon fish, but it will occasionally take mammals and waterfowl and is known to feed on carrion at times. The Internet is full of magnificent images of Bald Eagle shots taken in Alaska where the birds are very tame and may be approached closely. Though I have traveled a great deal, I have never "done" the Alaska eagle trips, so you will have to look at some other Bald Eagle shots unless and until I get up to Alaska. A pair of Bald Eagles built a nest in a large Pecan tree on the banks of the Llano River in Llano Co., Texas, in December, 2003. The nest was only 150 yards or so from a public highway, so these birds had to contend with lots of human birdwatchers and photographers. The eagles did not seem to mind. The first four shots here were all taken in March, 2004, with a Canon EOS 10D and EF 600mm F/4 L IS lens and 1.4X extender.



The immature Bald Eagle in flight was at Palo Duro Reservoir, Hansford Co., Texas, in December, 2005. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 500mm F/4 L IS lens and 1.4X extender.
The adult Bald Eagle in flight shown here was over Lake Tohopekaliga, Kissimmee, Osceola Co., Florida in February 2007. It was shot with the same gear as the image above.
An adult Bald Eagle sits in a spruce tree along the Chilkoot River in Haines, Alaska, in August, 2008.
The mature Bald Eagle on the right was near Sanibel Island, Lee Co., Florida, in January, 2013.
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus two adults San Carlos Bay, Ft. Myers, Lee Co., Florida 10 October 2014
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus San Carlos Bay, Ft. Myers, Lee Co., Florida 10 October 2014
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus adult at active nest St. Marks N.W.R., Wakulla Co., Florida 20 February 2017