Features: The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a well-known bird of prey with a distinctive white head, neck and tail, and a brown body. Young birds are mostly brown with a variable amount of white. It takes four years for the young to attain adult plumage. Bald Eagles feed mainly on fish, but they also catch birds and small mammals, scavenge for carrion, and steal food from other birds such as osprey. Their nests are huge stick platforms, usually placed high in a tree, near water.

Status: Special Concern in northern and southern Ontario, Not at Risk Nationally

Range: Although Bald Eagles are widespread in Canada and the United States, their abundance varies regionally. In Ontario, 31 active nests are present in the southwest, while northern populations are healthier. Range Maps

Threats: Beginning in the 1950's, Bald Eagle populations in eastern North America declined as a result of the widespread application of organochlorine pesticides such as DDT. The use of these chemicals is now restricted in Canada and the United States, and Bald Eagle populations in many areas are no longer experiencing pesticide-related reproductive failures. Today Bald Eagles remain susceptible to illegal shooting, accidental trapping, poisoning and electrocution.

Protection: The Bald Eagle is protected from being hunted or trapped throughout Ontario under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. In southern Ontario, the eagle and its habitat are protected in regulation under Ontario's Endangered Species Act, 2007. The Natural Heritage component of the Provincial Policy Statement under Ontario's Planning Act provides for the protection of significant portions of the habitat of species listed in regulation under the E.S.A.. In addition, Ontario's Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program (CLTIP) will provide 100% tax relief to private landowners for the portion of their property (minimum size 0.5 acres) determined to be habitat of species in regulation under the E.S.A. This program recognizes, encourages and supports private land stewardship. Bird Studies Canada, in cooperation with the Canadian Wildlife Service and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, monitors eagles in southwestern Ontario by counting the number of young successfully produced by each nesting pair, and by conducting pesticide analyses on blood samples from eaglets.

For more information on the Bald Eagle in southwestern Ontario, visit the Bird Studies Canada website.

Text Sources: Brownell and Oldham 1984

Last Modified Date: September 2009