Jackie and Shadow are now the proud parents of two eaglets after the couple’s chicks hatched over the weekend.
But as the adorable pair get acclimated to life in the nest, they’ve been observed doing some perplexing – perhaps even seemingly concerning – behavior. The siblings have been caught pecking and pushing each other during a feeding session.
But the behavior, called bonking, is actually common and nothing to worry about.
According to the nonprofit that monitors the eagles, Friends of Big Bear Valley, sibling rivalry is typical among eaglets. The dominant chick will tend to eat first while the smaller chick waits or comes up with creative ways to get its food, like walking around or waiting until the bigger chicks go into a food coma.
Watch the baby birds bonking in the video at the top of the story.
See bald eagle couple Jackie and Shadow and their life in the wild
1 of 11
Jackie and Shadow, the two viral bald eagles who call Southern California their home, pictured in their nest on Jan. 19, 2026. In a Facebook post, Friends of Big Bear Valley, the nonprofit that runs 24/7 cameras and livestreams of the eagles and their habitat, said Jackie laid her first eggs of 2026 in the couple’s nest inside the San Bernardino National Forest on Jan. 23, and again on Jan. 26.
In February 2025, Jackie laid three eggs. At the time, both bald eagles were seen on video rotating shifts, sitting on the eggs and caring for one another. The couple is doing the same thing almost a year later.
How long could bonking last?
“Bonking usually subsides once there is a ‘pecking order,'” the nonprofit wrote, meaning when the chicks determine which one will eat first.
Because the birds live in a rich food environment, it’s unlikely bonking will continue. The nonprofit expects the sibling rivalry to soon turn into friendship. It’s thought the phase could last a few days or a week.
Tiny eaglets born to fans’ favorite couple of bald eagles, Jackie and Shadow, are growing up fast! The siblings are now learning how to “bonk.”
However, the nonprofit warns that a bonked chick may lie down and assume a submissive stance with its head down, in a movement similar to holding up a white flag. But the action does not mean the chick is unconscious or injured, the nonprofit said.
The bonking may even serve the chicks as they grow. Once they fledge the nest, the aggressiveness may do them well, the nonprofit said.
What to know about Jackie and Shadow’s babies
Chick 1 and Chick 2 hatched on April 4 at 9:33 p.m. and April 5 at 8:30 a.m., respectively. The eagle family lives in a nest in Big Bear Valley, a 15-mile valley in the San Bernardino National Forest in Southern California.
The chicks are about 4 to 5 inches tall, the nonprofit said in a Facebook post. They’re eating often. On Wednesday, April 8, the nonprofit said the chicks were fed 17 times in one day.
The live feed for the majestic birds can be viewed on the Friends of Big Bear Valley website.
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jackie and Shadow’s eagle chicks are bonking. What is that?