bald eagle

/bɔld ˌigəl/

/bɔld ˈigəl/

Other forms: bald eagles

Despite its name, the bald eagle is a North American bird with a head full of bright white feathers that stand out against the dark feathers on its body.

The bald eagle got its misleading name due to its combination of a white head with dark body feathers, which make it appear bald from a distance. While you won't catch these eagles shopping for wigs, you might spot them near rivers, lakes, and coasts, where they feast on fish. Chosen as the national symbol of the USA for its majestic and robust appearance, bald eagles also construct the largest nests of any North American bird — so large that an adult person could comfortably fit inside!

Definitions of bald eagle

1. noun

   a large eagle of North America that has a white head and dark wings and body
   synonyms: American eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus

   type of:

   bird of Jove, eagle

   any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight