{"id":304398,"date":"2026-02-27T05:43:29","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T05:43:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/304398\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T05:43:29","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T05:43:29","slug":"power-and-majesty-of-bald-eagles-revealed-in-16-staggering-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/304398\/","title":{"rendered":"Power and majesty of bald eagles revealed in 16 staggering photos"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The bald eagle is one of North America&#8217;s most majestic birds. This huge raptor, with its snow-white head and yellow beak, has an average wingspan of around two metres and can weigh over six kilograms.<\/p>\n<p>Its razor-sharp <a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/whats-the-difference-between-claws-and-talons\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">talons<\/a>, keen eyesight and incredible aerial skills make the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/birds\/national-animal-of-the-usa\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">USA&#8217;s national animal<\/a> an exceptional hunter \u2013 as this set of 16 incredible <a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/birds\/bald-eagle-facts\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">bald eagle<\/a> images shows.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2117\" height=\"1416\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bald-eagle-is-preparing-to-land-Alaska-USA.jpeg\" alt=\"Bald eagle in snow\" class=\"wp-image-154297\"\/>Bald eagles can plummet towards prey at a speed of around 160 kph (99 mph). Credit: Johnny Johnson\/Getty Images<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2121\" height=\"1414\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bald-eagle-hunting-herring.jpeg\" alt=\"Bald eagle hunting herring\" class=\"wp-image-154285\"\/>Bald eagles prey mainly on fish, but may also take birds, squirrels, rabbits and other small mammals. Credit: Jared Lloyd\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2121\" height=\"1414\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bald-eagle-in-Alaska.jpeg\" alt=\"Bald eagle\" class=\"wp-image-154294\"\/>The scientific name of the bald eagle is Haliaeetus leucocephalus. Credit: Valerio Ferraro\/Getty Images<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2068\" height=\"1449\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bald-eagle-in-snow.jpeg\" alt=\"Bald eagle in snow\" class=\"wp-image-154284\"\/>The bald eagle has been the national symbol of the USA since 1782. Credit: Josh Miller Photography\/Aurora Photos\/Getty Images<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1862\" height=\"2560\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/A-bald-eagle-flies-through-the-fog-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"Bald eagle\" class=\"wp-image-154290\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\"\/>Bald eagles can fly over 3 km (1.8 miles) high. Credit: Scott Suriano\/Getty Images<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2121\" height=\"1414\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/A-bald-eagle-in-fog.jpeg\" alt=\"Bald eagle and fish\" class=\"wp-image-154288\"\/>Bald eagles are found near coasts, lakes, rivers and reservoirs. Credit: Scott Suriano\/Getty Images<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bald-eagle-killing-and-feeding-on-a-young-gull-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"Bald eagle\" class=\"wp-image-154283\"\/>A bald eagle feeding on a young gull at Knight Inlet in British Columbia, Canada. Credit: Neil Aldridge\/Getty Images<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2289\" height=\"1309\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bald-eagle.jpeg\" alt=\"Bald eagle\" class=\"wp-image-154335\"\/>The bald eagle has piercing yellow eyes and can spot prey from 3 km (1.8 miles) away. Credit: Andy Smith\/Getty Images<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1844\" height=\"1625\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bald-eagles-fighting.jpeg\" alt=\"Bald eagles\" class=\"wp-image-154286\"\/>Bald eagles fight over hunting grounds in Haines, Alaska. Credit: Cavan Images\/Getty Images<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2121\" height=\"1414\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bald-eagle-soars-above-the-snow-covered-Kenai-Mountains.jpeg\" alt=\"Bald eagle in flight\" class=\"wp-image-154292\"\/>A bald eagle glides through the crisp winter air above the pristine Kenai Mountains, Alaska. Credit: Jared Lloyd\/Getty Images<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1704\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/A-pair-of-juvenile-bald-eagles-attack-each-other-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"Bald eagles fighting\" class=\"wp-image-154281\"\/>A pair of juvenile bald eagles duel amid falling snow. Credit: ps50ace\/Getty Images<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1709\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bald-eagle-territorial-display-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"Bald eagle\" class=\"wp-image-154295\"\/>These large raptors have an average lifespan of 20 to 30 years. Credit: Andrea Pico Estrada\/Getty Images<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2121\" height=\"1414\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bald-eagles-in-nest.jpeg\" alt=\"Blad eagles in nest\" class=\"wp-image-154300\"\/>Bald eagles build large nests at the top of trees to keep their eggs and chicks away from predators. Credit: Brent Asay\/Getty Images<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2121\" height=\"1414\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bald-eagle-with-chick.jpeg\" alt=\"Bald eagle adult and chick\" class=\"wp-image-154299\"\/>Baby bald eagles are called eaglets. Credit: Mark Newman\/Getty Images<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1854\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Two-juvenile-bald-eagles-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"Bald eagle juveniles\" class=\"wp-image-154280\"\/>Two juvenile bald eagles fight over a fish at Conowingo Dam in Maryland, USA. Credit: Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography\/Getty Images<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2121\" height=\"1414\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Bald-eagle-hunts-for-fish-in-Kachemak-Bay-as-wings-create-splash.jpeg\" alt=\"Bald eagle hunts for fish\" class=\"wp-image-154287\"\/>A bald eagle skilfully catches a fish at Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Credit: Jared Lloyd\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>Top image: juvenile bald eagles at Conowingo Dam in Maryland, USA. Credit: Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>More amazing bird stories from around the world<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The bald eagle is one of North America&#8217;s most majestic birds. This huge raptor, with its snow-white head&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":304399,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[111,139,69,147,406],"class_list":["post-304398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wildlife","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-science","tag-wildlife"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/304398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=304398"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/304398\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/304399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=304398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=304398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=304398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}