Last Updated on March 8, 2024 by Amin Tawar
Bald Eagles (scientific name Haliaeetus leucocephalus) can be found soaring over the length and breadth of North America, from Canada to Mexico. Whatever the name might say, it doesn’t mean that the eagles are actually bald. No, the name comes from the English word ‘piebald’ which means ‘white’. Thus the heads of the Bald Eagle are actually white in colour. They’re famous for having an extremely impressive wingspan.
Bald Eagle Height
When it comes to size, bald eagles usually stand at about 2.3 feet to 3.15 feet. This can be difficult to judge, depending on whether the eagle has its neck outstretched or not. The height is usually used to indicate the distance between the eagle’s tail and the eagle’s bill.
The female bald eagles are actually bigger than the male ones. Statistics show that the female bald eagle can be 25 percent larger than the male ones.
| Height | Inches | Centimeters |
| Males | 28 – 36 | 71 – 90 |
| Females | 35 – 43 | 89 – 108 |
See all eagle size here
Bald Eagle Weight
Bald eagles have a pretty weighty body which can be supported by their massive wingspan in flight. But there can be vast differences in their weight depending on which region they’re from. If the eagle is from the southern latitudes, near Mexico, they’re smaller and lighter. The further north you go, the bigger the bald eagles become. There’s also the fact that the females weigh more than the males do.
It’s quite hard to determine an average given all of these factors. All we can do is note the range. There’s no doubt about the fact that bald eagles are some of the biggest birds in the United States. On average, bald eagles can vary from 8 lbs for the smallest males to 14 lbs for the biggest females.
| Weight | Pounds | Kilograms |
| Males | 7 – 9 | 3 – 4 |
| Females | 10 – 14 | 4.5 – 6 |
On average, in the southern latitudes the bald eagle weighs about 3.2 kg or 7.2 lbs while in the northern latitudes it’s closer to 4.79 kg or 10.7 lbs.
Bald Eagle Wingspan Size
The wingspan of the bald eagle is truly breathtaking. Wings spread, if you measure the length of the bald eagle, it can easily outstrip an average sized man. The wingspan is the distance between one wingtip to the other when the bird fully stretches them out.
The bald eagle has broad wings that it often holds straight like a board. The reason that eagle wings are so massive is they have to be able to support the eagle’s heavy body and any prey it might be carrying. Eagles often spend time gliding since it takes less effort than flapping.
| Average Wingspan | Feet | Meters |
| Males | 6.6 | 2 |
| Females | 8 | 2.5 |
Bald Eagle Clutch Size
The nests that bald eagles build are known as some of the largest nests in the world. They can be between 5 and 6 feet in diameter. They, like most other birds, don’t have a large clutch of eggs. The usual number of eggs per clutch is 1 to 3 eggs.
However, 3 eggs is quite rare. Most female bald eagles only produce 1 or 2 eggs. Bald eagles also usually mate for life and might reuse their nest year after year. Both partners are involved in the nest-making process and defend their territory together.
The eggs of a bald eagle are between 2.3 and 3.3 inches long (5.8 – 8.4 cm) and 1.9 to 2.5 inches wide (4.7 – 6.3 cm).
Bald Eagle Baby Size
Bald eagle babies, at the time of their birth, generally have pink skin and are covered by a soft grey down. Upon hatching, the chicks measure about 4 to 5 inches or 10 to 13 cm in length. On average, they weigh around 100 grams or 3.5 oz.
Young bald eagles may reach a quite large size within the first 2 months itself. But that definitely doesn’t mean that they’ve reached adulthood. In fact, it can take as many as four years for the bald eagles to gain their proper adult plumage. Juvenile eagles still have patches of white on the undersides of their wings and tail.
They go off to establish their own territories at about 4 years of age.
Bald Eagle Size Comparison to Human
If we take the average human height to be 5 feet 9 inches, that’s the wingspan of the smaller adult male bald eagles. Some of the larger females have wingspans of 8 feet and can far outstrip even the tallest men. That’s an entire 2 feet taller than the average man.
Where actual height is concerned, the average bald eagle sits at about 2.7 meters. This would be waist high for the average man.
Bald Eagle Vs Golden Eagle Comparison
It’s natural to compare bald eagles with other kinds of eagles. The ones that come the closest are the golden eagles. The bodies and wingspans of these two kinds of eagles are very similar. Golden eagles might just be a little bigger.
While the average wingspan of a bald eagle is about 81 inches or 6.75 feet, the average wingspan of a golden eagle is probably 81.5 inches (6.79 feet). It’s a negligible difference.
The only bird in North America which is bigger than these two kinds of eagles is the California Condor. With a wingspan of 115 inches, it easily surpasses the eagles.
| Bird | Average Wingspan |
| Bald Eagle | 71 – 91 inches (180 – 230 cm) |
| Golden Eagle | 71 – 92 inches (180 – 234 cm) |
Bald Eagle Vs Osprey size Comparison
Ospreys are some of the more common birds of prey in North America. Thus, it’s easy to compare it in size with the bald eagle, with whom it often shares habitats. It’s in the top five largest birds of the continent, coming in just at fifth place. With a wingspan ranging from 60 to 72 inches, it’s not far behind the bald eagle.
| Bird | Average Wingspan |
| Bald Eagle | 71 – 91 inches (180 – 230 cm) |
| Osprey | 60 – 72 inches (150 – 180 cm) |
Bald Eagle Vs Red-Tailed Hawk size Comparison
The red-tailed hawk, which is so common across North America, is one of the smaller birds of prey. It is easily dwarfed by the massive bald eagle.
Since it’s so familiar to most Americans, it makes a good reference point. The average wingspan of a red-tailed hawk is just 50 feet. This gives us an idea of just how large the bald eagle is.
| Bird | Average Wingspan |
| Bald Eagle | 71 – 91 inches (180 – 230 cm) |
| Red-Tailed Hawk | 42 – 58 inches (105 – 141 cm) |
Conclusion
And that is everything you need to know about the Bald Eagle. I hope this article was helpful and that you get something from it.