about how long can a bald eagle live?
Banded Eagles. Banded wild bald eagles usually die before they turn 30, but a 31-year-old banded female corpse was discovered in Wisconsin on May 16, 2008 (see Resources). Mortality. According to the American Bald Eagle Foundation, fewer than 10 percent of bald eaglets survive until sexual maturity. Most bald eagles die in their first year of life, usually from starvation. Sexual Maturity. Bald eagles do not reach sexual maturity until they are about four or five years old. The bald eagle is both the national bird and national animal of the United States of America. The bald eagle appears on its seal. In the late 20th century it was on the brink of extirpation in the contiguous United States. Unlike some other eagle species, bald eagles rarely take on evasive or dangerous prey on their own. The species mainly target prey which is much smaller than themselves, with most live fish caught weighing 1 to 3 kg (2.2 to 6.6 lb) and most waterbirds preyed weighing 0.2 to 2.7 kg (0.44 to 5.95 lb). The bald eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known subspecies and forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle. Its range includes most of Canada and Alaska, all of the contiguous United States, and northern Mexico. It is found near large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply and old-growth trees for nesting. The bald eagle is an opportunistic feeder which subsists mainly on fish, which it swoops down and snatches from the water with its talons Native American tribes can obtain a Native American Religious Use permit to keep non-releasable eagles as well. They use their naturally molted feathers for religious and cultural ceremonies. The bald eagle can be long-lived in captivity if well cared for, but does not breed well even under the best conditions. In Canada, a license is required to keep bald eagles for falconry. The bald eagle is thought to be much more numerous in North America than the golden eagle, with the bald species estimated to number at least 150,000 individuals, about twice as many golden eagles there are estimated to live in North America. Due to this, bald eagles often outnumber golden eagles at attractive food sources. The plumage of an adult bald eagle is evenly dark brown with a white head and tail. The tail is moderately long and slightly wedge-shaped. Males and females are identical in plumage coloration, but sexual dimorphism is evident in the species, in that females are 25% larger than males. The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) lives an average of 20 to 30 years. According to the Philadelphia Zoo, the oldest bald eagle known lived to be 47 years old. That was a captive bald eagle. However, in the wild, bald eagles do not often live out their full lifespan as they face many threats. The eagle has the longest life-span of its’ species. It can live up to 70 years. But to reach this age, the eagle must make a hard decision in its’ 40’s. Its’ long and flexible talons can no longer grab prey which serves as food. Its’ long and sharp beak becomes bent. Summary of eRumor: The eRumor says that eagles can live to be 70, but in order to reach that age it makes a painful decision in its 40s. At that time the eagle goes through a 150-day change that extends the eagle’s life that includes breaking off the beak and feathers so new ones can grow. The Truth: This email, which often includes pictures of eagles and is sometimes a PowerPoint presentation, is a complete myth.
The bald eagle lives an average of 20 to 30 years.