The
bald eagle
(Haliaeetus leucocephalos)
is
a resident raptor of the NWT. The pure white head, neck and tail of
the adult bird distinguish it from all other raptors in the NWT.
Immature
bald eagles are dark brown with varying amounts of white on the head, neck
and tail. Bald eagles are
similar in size to golden eagles (75-108 cm tall) and require four years
to achieve adult plumage.
Bald
eagles over-winter in southern Canada and the USA, frequently concentrating in
large numbers along spawning salmon streams.
In the NWT, bald eagles frequent the forested lake country.
The
nest of a bald eagle is built with large sticks, usually in a tall
tree near water and is used for many years.
The nest site is known as an eyrie.
Two
eggs are laid in April. The adults are opportunistic feeders and
supply their young a varied diet ranging from fresh fish (caught by
the adult or stolen from an osprey or fisherman) to hares and
carrion. One or two
young are fledged after 77 days in the nest.
