Bald Eagle Research Paper
Bald Eagle
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Classification
Domain- archaicbacteria
Kingdom- animalia
Phylum- chordata
Class- aves
Order- falconifornes
Family- accipitridae
Genus- Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Species- Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Description
The bald eagle is very dark brown with a white feathered head and tail. Also, their beak is dark yellow and its feet and legs are a dull orange. The bald eagle is one of the largest flying birds seen in the United States. When it is standing, it is between 30.4 and 36.4 inches tall. It has a five and a half to eight foot wing span.
The Body of an eagle is made for flying and for getting prey. To do this, the body must be light and strong. It must be light enough to get off the ground to fly, but strong enough to swoop down and capture its prey. Eagles have hollow bones to make them not as heavy. An eagle can fly faster or slower by changing the position of its wings. When it wants to fly fast, it turns the front of the wings into the wind and cuts through the air. When the eagle wants to slow down, it turns the wide part of the wings towards the wind, and the wings drag through the air.
Breeding and Nesting
Bald eagles are usually very loyal to their mates during their lifetime. An eagle will look for a new mate only if its companion dies. During breeding season, both birds protect the nest territory from other eagles and predators.
The shape of an eagles nest is determined mainly by the branch point where it 's built. Sticks placed in tree forks result in circular shaped nests. Disk shaped nests are built on the ground or a tree branch. Bowl shaped nests occur where the tree trunk branches off into smaller upright branches. Bald eagles build their nests in large trees near rivers or coasts. A typical nest is around 5 feet in diameter.
In the Vancouver area eggs are laid in late March and early April. In northern Canada and Alaska eggs are laid in May. In Florida, eggs are laid from November
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Classification
Domain- archaicbacteria
Kingdom- animalia
Phylum- chordata
Class- aves
Order- falconifornes
Family- accipitridae
Genus- Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Species- Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Description
The bald eagle is very dark brown with a white feathered head and tail. Also, their beak is dark yellow and its feet and legs are a dull orange. The bald eagle is one of the largest flying birds seen in the United States. When it is standing, it is between 30.4 and 36.4 inches tall. It has a five and a half to eight foot wing span.
The Body of an eagle is made for flying and for getting prey. To do this, the body must be light and strong. It must be light enough to get off the ground to fly, but strong enough to swoop down and capture its prey. Eagles have hollow bones to make them not as heavy. An eagle can fly faster or slower by changing the position of its wings. When it wants to fly fast, it turns the front of the wings into the wind and cuts through the air. When the eagle wants to slow down, it turns the wide part of the wings towards the wind, and the wings drag through the air.
Breeding and Nesting
Bald eagles are usually very loyal to their mates during their lifetime. An eagle will look for a new mate only if its companion dies. During breeding season, both birds protect the nest territory from other eagles and predators.
The shape of an eagles nest is determined mainly by the branch point where it 's built. Sticks placed in tree forks result in circular shaped nests. Disk shaped nests are built on the ground or a tree branch. Bowl shaped nests occur where the tree trunk branches off into smaller upright branches. Bald eagles build their nests in large trees near rivers or coasts. A typical nest is around 5 feet in diameter.
In the Vancouver area eggs are laid in late March and early April. In northern Canada and Alaska eggs are laid in May. In Florida, eggs are laid from November
References: http://www.kewlwallpapers.com/bulkupload/83/Animals/The%20Messenger%20Bald%20Eagle.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_Eagle http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/aves/falconiformes/bald-eagle.htm http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Birds/Facts/FactSheets/fact-baldeagle.cfm http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/bald_eagle_deciduous.htm http://www.kwic.com/~pagodavista/schoolhouse/species/birds/body.htm http://www.hancockwildlife.org/mediagallery/mediaobjects/disp/9/9_hali_leuc_allam_map.jpg