The bald eagle is the only eagle unique to North America. Its distinctive brown body and white head and tail make it easy to identify even from a distance.
The bald eagle's scientific name signifies a sea (halo) eagle (aeetos) with a white (leukos) head. At one time, the word "bald" meant "white," not hairless.
The Bald Eagle is an unforgettable animal. Its white head and tail, eight-foot wingspread, piercing eyes, massive hooked beak and powerful talons make it unmistakable among North American birds. Bald Eagles are most often seen soaring on their broad, flat wings, or else perched conspicuously, often in the upper branches of tall trees.
