unique among them, the bald eagle is native only to the United States. While golden eagles are also native to North America, their range also extends into Europe and Asia.
The national bird of the U.S., the bald eagle gets its name from the stark white head and tail that helps distinguish it from other species of eagles. Yet juvenile bald eagles are often mistaken for golden eagles as the birds are similar in size and both species sport long brown feathers, that is until bald eagles grow in their namesake plumage around 4-5 years old.
Once on the brink of extinction, the bald eagle is one of our country’s great conservation success stories. In 1963, there were only 417 known nesting pairs remained in the lower 48 states. But the population rebounded thanks to protections from the Endangered Species Act as well as conservation efforts from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies. By 2007, this beautiful bird was removed from the endangered list and scientists now estimate more than 300,000 now soar through our skies.
Bald eagle and golden eagle
Look no further. Connect with our amazing animals and learn about the wild places they come from.
Everyone has the power to help save wild things and wild places. That power is your individual voice, your awareness and your actions. So in addition to visiting the Zoo and meeting our animal ambassadors, here are a few simple suggestions that will help save their counterparts in the wild:
The Animal Amigo program helps care for all of the animals at the Zoo by funding food, medical treatment, equipment, enrichment toys, and habitat improvement for the animals in our care. For a donation of $100 or more, you can sponsor a bald eagle at the Indianapolis Zoo. You will receive a plush, collector card, certificate and recognition on the Animal Amigo donor board!
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