Scientific name
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Common name
Bald Eagle
Conservation status
Least concern
Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Accipitriformes
- Family: Accipitridae
- Genus: Haliaeetus
- Species: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Habitat
Coastal forests, marshes, lakes, and mountains
Geographic range
Primarily in North America, including Alaska, Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico
Our Animals Names
Marahuté and Aerie
Favorite enrichment item
Large tubs to bathe in
Life span
In the wild: 15 to 25 years
In human care: Up to 50 years
Diet
In the wild: Fish, birds, lizards, small mammals, and scavenged carrion
At the Zoo: fish and frozen thawed rats
Location in Zoo
After entering the zoo through the admissions booth, head to the right to enter the Forgotten Forest! Once in the Forgotten Forest, our eagles are located up the left ramp and kitty-corner to Dean the Raven.
Meet Marahuté and Aerie: The Stars of the Sky
With a wingspan as wide as a couch and eyesight that rivals binoculars, Marahuté (our female) and Aerie (our male) are true symbols of power and grace. These Bald Eagles, North America’s national bird, live here in the Forgotten Forest and are ambassadors for their counterparts in the wild. Though they can no longer survive in the wild due to past injuries, they now serve an even more important role—educating visitors and inspiring conservation action.
You can find Marahuté and Aerie by heading right after admissions, walking through the Forgotten Forest, and following the ramp up to their habitat—just kitty-corner from Dean the Raven.
Big Birds with a Bigger Presence
Adult Bald Eagles are hard to miss—with striking white heads, bright yellow beaks, and wingspans that stretch up to 8 feet! But they don’t start out that way. Bald Eagles go through 5 years of color changes before reaching their iconic adult plumage. Juveniles are mostly brown and often confused with Golden Eagles and other large birds of prey.
Bald eagles are also expert co-parents. Both male and female Bald Eagles help build massive nests—often 5 feet wide and 2–4 feet tall—and both take part in raising their young. The largest eagle nest on record measured 10 feet wide and 20 feet tall and weighed over 2 tons after 30 years of use!
Sharp Eyes, Strong Talons
- Favorite food? Fish! Bald Eagles are carnivorous opportunistic foragers, meaning they’ll eat whatever meat they can get, from waterfowl and small mammals to carrion (animals that have passed away) left behind by other predators.
- They can see prey from 4 miles away, earning the nickname “eagle eyes."
- Their talons have 10x the grip strength of a human hand—strong enough to snatch fish out of water mid-flight!
During winter months, especially in northern areas like Michigan, eagles rely more heavily on scavenging, often gathering near open water or roadkill for easy meals.
Why Aren’t They Flying Away?
Guests often ask why Marahuté and Aerie don’t leave their open-top habitat. Both eagles sustained injuries in the wild, most likely due to vehicle collisions, that have permanently affected their ability to fly.
And they’re not alone. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 89 to 340 million birds are killed in vehicle collisions every year in the U.S.—and Bald Eagles are among them. These birds are often seen near roadsides feeding on roadkill, which puts them in danger of being struck by passing cars. If you are driving along our highways and see that there is a deceased animal in a dangerous position, be mindful of scavengers and reach out to your local city hall or county road commission to dispose of the remains.
Conservation: A Soaring Success
The story of the Bald Eagle is one of the greatest conservation success stories in U.S. history.
By the 1960s, Bald Eagle populations were plummeting due to habitat loss, illegal hunting, and the widespread use of DDT. DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) is a pesticide that causes their eggshells to become dangerously thin, making it difficult to impossible for their chicks to hatch appropriately.
- In 1967, Bald Eagles were listed under the Endangered Species Preservation Act.
- By 1972, DDT was banned in the U.S., and strict protections were put in place.
- Thanks to decades of recovery work, they were delisted in 2007 and are now classified as Least Concern—but the work to protect them continues!
How You Can Help
You don’t need wings to make a difference. Here’s how you can protect Bald Eagles and other birds of prey:
- Reduce single-use plastics – Keep waterways clean
- Use natural lawn care – Avoid pesticides and harmful chemicals
- Clean up fishing lines – Discard lines and hooks properly
- Avoid lead ammunition and tackle – Lead poisoning is a serious threat to birds that scavenge, like eagles. Switch to non-lead alternatives!
Eagle Fast Facts
- Range: Alaska, Canada, the U.S., and northern Mexico
- Wingspan: Up to 8 feet
- Lifespan: 15–25 years in the wild; up to 50 in human care
- Nests can weigh 2 tons and stand 20 feet tall
- Vision: Can spot a rabbit from 4 miles away
- Talon grip: 400+ psi (10x stronger than a human hand!)
- Excellent parents: both raise the chicks
- Scavengers: often feed on roadkill, putting them at risk near roads
Marahuté and Aerie may no longer soar through the skies, but they continue to inspire awe and action from right here in the Forgotten Forest. Come meet them, learn their story, and discover how you can help protect birds of prey for generations to come.