AnimalsThe bald eagle is the national bird of the United States. It is not bald: adults have a white head and tail. It feeds mainly on fish and builds some of the largest nests of any bird, adding to them year after year.
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Haliaeetus leucocephalus
- Group
- Birds
- Diet
- Carnivore (eats other animals)
- Lives in
- North America
- Habitat
- Lakes, rivers and coasts
- A young one is called
- eaglet
- A group is called
- convocation
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
How it is classified
Scientists sort living things into groups within groups. Reading down, each step is a smaller group, ending with the species itself.
- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Chordata
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae
- Genus Haliaeetus
- Species Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Classification follows the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Other reference works arrange some groups differently. How classification works.
Is it in danger?
The bald eagle is listed as Least Concern. The species is widespread or numerous enough that it is not considered at risk of extinction at present.
This is the IUCN Red List category as recorded in Wikidata on 11 November 2026. The IUCN Red List itself is the authority and may carry a newer assessment. What the categories mean.