Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
ABNKC10010
Common Name: 
Bald Eagle
Scientific Name: 
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Naming References: 
ASC13
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Accipitriformes
Family: 
Accipitridae
References: 
B004
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

4 to 5 years (R073); Capable of breeding in fifth year of life (i.e., 4+ yr old) when Definitive plumage is attained.(B134)
References: 
R073
B134

Longevity

20 to 30 years (up to 50 in captivity) (R073); Record longevity in wild 28 yr (se. Alaska; Schempf 1997), 36 yr in captivity (Newton 1979). (B134)
References: 
R073
B134

Economic/Human Considerations

restricted to N. America; top of food chain = good environmental indicators
References: 
R073
Habitat
found along sea coasts or large inland lakes and rivers below the tree line
References: 
R073
Distribution

Ecozones

Southern Arctic, Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Cordillera, Boreal Plains
References: 
B004

Distribution

(144-19)/164 (76%) , Common migrant and breeder throughout the Mainland north to the North Coast (Kendall Island, Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, Anderson and Horton river deltas). A contemporary estimate of total NA population (1999) might be 100,000 individuals, with the largest numbers still in Alaska and British Columbia.
Score: 
G
References: 
R073
Winter Distribution Description: 
south -western and -eastern coast of Canada and south of breeding range

Number of Occurrences

80- more than 300?; Early record: 16 March 2013; 1 individual; Great Slave Lake (Wool Bay); John McKay, David Jessman; eBird 2012. Late record: 17 November 2012; 1 individual; Yellowknife; Reid Hildebrandt; eBird 2012. High count: 28 individuals; 30 April 2013; Yellowknife (dump); Reid Hildebrandt; eBird 2012.
Score: 
DE
References: 
H126

Historical Distribution

May have been smaller than now
References: 
R073

Area of Occupancy

Probably stable
Score: 
-
References: 
B004
LWR01
B134
Population

Population Size

A contemporary estimate of total NA population (1999) might be 100,000 individuals, with the largest numbers still in Alaska and British Columbia.
Score: 
F
References: 
B134

Density

~1 active nest per 10 miles of river valley in Yukon
Trends

Trends

National trend is unknown (B004, LWR01) ; Trends for Canada not well documented but may follow trends in Alaska, with populations at or near carrying capacity (B324), seen more often on the tundra (SARC caribou report)
References: 
B004
LWR01
B134
Threats

Threats

In South and in the past pesticide contamination, human persecution, disturbing nest sites, collision, electrocution, accidental trapping, poisoned bait, led shot; In NWT disturbing nest sites, collision, electrocution, accidental trapping may occur but are limited, other threats unknown
References: 
H126
R073

Intrinsic Vulnerability

loss to deforestation in south; limited habitat loss in NWT
Score: 
C
References: 
H126
R073
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
But numbers and occurences not well known
S Rank: 
S5
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Suzanne Carriere based on printed references.. Reviewed in 2005 by S Carrière based on printed literature only :no change in rank; Reviewed in 2010;no change; Reviewed in 2015, no change; Reviewed in 2020, no change
Last Updated: 
June 18, 2020
Status Designations

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSEWIC Status: 
Not At Risk
References: 
R073

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Brownell VR and Oldham MJ (1984) Status report on the bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephlalus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R073 Return
  • Buehler, D. A. (2000) Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). In The Birds of North America,. No. 506 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu - B134 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Downes, C.M., E.H. Dunn and C.M Francis (2000) Canadian Landbird Monitoring Strategy: monitoring needs and priorities into the new millenium.. Partners in Flight - Canada A 9-15 EC-CWS, Yellowknife (L. Wakelyn) - or communicate with Erica H. Dunn, CWS in Hull, QC, at erica.dunn@ec,gc,ca - LWR01 Return
  • Buehler, D. A. (2000) Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). In The Birds of North America,. No. 506 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu - B134 Return
COSEWIC Status
  • Brownell VR and Oldham MJ (1984) Status report on the bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephlalus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R073 Return

Economic Status

  • Brownell VR and Oldham MJ (1984) Status report on the bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephlalus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R073 Return

Ecozones

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Habitat

  • Brownell VR and Oldham MJ (1984) Status report on the bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephlalus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R073 Return

Historical Distribution

  • Brownell VR and Oldham MJ (1984) Status report on the bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephlalus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R073 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return
  • Brownell VR and Oldham MJ (1984) Status report on the bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephlalus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R073 Return

Longevity

  • Brownell VR and Oldham MJ (1984) Status report on the bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephlalus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R073 Return
  • Buehler, D. A. (2000) Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). In The Birds of North America,. No. 506 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu - B134 Return

Naming

  • Chesser, R. Terry, Richard C. Banks, F. Keith Barker, Carla Cicero, Jon L. Dunn, Andrew W. Kratter, Irby J. Lovette, Pamela C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, James D. Rising, Douglas F. Stotz, Kevin Winker. (2010) Fifty-first supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-List of North American Birds.. Auk 127(3):726-744. - ASC13 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return

Population Size

Buehler, D. A. (2000) Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). In The Birds of North America,. No. 506 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu - B134 Return

Range Extent

  • Brownell VR and Oldham MJ (1984) Status report on the bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephlalus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R073 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Downes, C.M., E.H. Dunn and C.M Francis (2000) Canadian Landbird Monitoring Strategy: monitoring needs and priorities into the new millenium.. Partners in Flight - Canada A 9-15 EC-CWS, Yellowknife (L. Wakelyn) - or communicate with Erica H. Dunn, CWS in Hull, QC, at erica.dunn@ec,gc,ca - LWR01 Return
  • Buehler, D. A. (2000) Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). In The Birds of North America,. No. 506 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu - B134 Return

Taxonomy

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Threats

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return
  • Brownell VR and Oldham MJ (1984) Status report on the bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephlalus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R073 Return