![[Photo of two Bald Eagles pearched on a branch. Red map indicates the range of the eagles. Blue indicates where eagles nest in the eastern portion of the state only.]](/wildlife/beagles2.gif)
What do they look like?The bald eagle is a "Threatened" species in Maryland, and with proper management has recovered from an "endangered" status. Bald eagles are nearly 3 feet tall, have a wingspan over six feet, and weigh between 8-15 pounds. Their talons (feet) and bill are yellow (immature eagles have dark bills and feet) and their bodies are dark brown. At 5 years of age, the bald eagles' tail and head feathers are white. Females are slightly larger than males.
Where are they found?
Bald eagles are found in Maryland all year round. Most are concentrated along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Nests are located in the uppermost crotch of tall trees. They prefer nesting near open water, along a shoreline or marsh.
Bald eagles have been
documented nesting in every county in MD. As the weather turns cold, bald eagles from Canada and northeastern states will spend the winter in Maryland, with concentrations at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Aberdeen Proving Ground, and the Susquehanna River below Conowingo Dam. The red map to the right indicates that bald eagles can be found statewide in Maryland. The map below it shows in blue that the nesting areas are
primarily in the tidal portions of the state and along the Potomac River.
What do they eat?
Primarily fish eaters, bald eagles will also prey on waterfowl, muskrats, and turtles. They will scavenge dead fish or other dead animals, and will also steal fish from osprey and other eagles.
What other kind of eagles live in Maryland?
The golden eagle is an occasional winter visitor to Maryland.
I didn't know that!
Bald eagles add nesting material to their nest each year. One Maryland nest which was used for over thirty years reportedly weighed 3000 pounds.
Maryland's Bald Eagles: Eternal Symbols of the Chesapeake
Bald Eagles in Maryland
2004 Maryland Bald Eagle Nesting Summary
Maryland Bald Eagle Nest Success & Productivity, 1977-2004
Wintering Bald Eagle Survey Results, 1979-2004
The Eagle Has Landed
Maryland's Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species