The Bald Eagle is another symbol of freedom in America.
On June 20, 1782 the Continental Congress adopted the design for the Great Seal of the United State. This symbol is an eagle grasping 13 arrows and an olive branch with thirteen leaves.
The bald eagle also appears on most official seals of the U.S. government including the presidential seal, the presidential flag and logos for many U.S. federal agencies.
The bird has a keen eyesight and are known for their excellent hunting skills. They primarily exists on fish.
The bald eagle builds the largest nest of any bird found in North America. Females are about 25% larger than their male counterparts.
While they have the name bald eagle, their heads are not bald. The name derives from the word piebald, which means white headed.
In the late 20th Century the bird was on the brink of extinction but has since recovered and been removed from the endangered species list.
The calls of younger birds tend to be more harsh and shrill than the weak staccato, chirping whistles of the adults.
The bald eagle often forms a species par with the white-tailed eagle of Eurasia.
The bald eagle can be found over most of North American, including the continental United States, most of Canada and northern Mexico.
The average life span is around 20 years in the wild. The oldest confirmed bald eagle was 38 years in the wild. Those in captivity have been known to live longer, and one instance is known up to 50 years.
Only injured birds unable to be released are usually kept in captivity, usually by educational institutes. Workers have to experienced and trained to care for these animals.
The bald eagle is sacred to many Native American cultures and their feathers are often used in religious customs. Only certified Native American tribes are allowed by law to obtain the feathers, which must be for religious use.