Haliaeetus leucocephalus

The magnificent bald eagle is a bird of the North American and Canadian territories. The bald eagle visits the Prince William Sound to breed and fledge offspring. They winter in the southern and central parts of the United States and spend their summers in Alaska and Canada. Bald eagles favorite meal item is fish and prefer habits nears lakes, rivers, and sea coasts where their prey is plentiful. They are a bird of prey that can grow to be over three-feet tall with a wingspan of eight-feet in length. Mature adults are easily spotted by people because of their white head and tail, however, juveniles are completely brown and often mistaken for another type of eagle. Bald eagles take up to five years to become sexually mature and return to their birthplace to reproduce. These birds can live 20 or more years in the wild and their life expectancy doubles in captivity. Bald eagles, on average, lay two eggs but it is rare for both offspring to survive to become a mature adult. Bald eagle relationshhips are similar to humans in many ways. They are monogamous animals when partnered. If one mate dies the other eagle will find a new mate; unlike another Alaskan bird the tundra swan that will not find another mate after theirs dies. Also, if the mating pair of eagles are not successful with reproduction they will break up and find other mates to try and reproduce with. Many Native American cultures saw the bald eagle as a guide between the physical and spirit world. Acting as messengers between the gods and the tribes.


Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haliaeetus_leucocephalus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tundra_Swan
http://www.kingfishermanor.com/Wildlife.html