The Bald eagle is a large bird, with a body length of 28 to 38 inches, a wingspan of 66 to 88 inches, and a weight of 6.6 to 14 pounds; females are about 25% larger than males. The adult Bald eagle has a brown body with a white head and tail, and bright yellow irises, taloned feet, and a hooked beak; juveniles are completely brown except for the yellow feet. Males and females are identical in plumage coloration.
Its diet consists mainly of fish, but it is an opportunistic feeder. It hunts fish by swooping down and snatching the fish out of the water with its talons. It is sexually mature at four to five years of age. The Bald eagle builds the largest nest of any North American bird, up to 13 feet deep, 8 feet wide, and 1.1 tons in weight.
The species was on the brink of extinction in the continental United States (while flourishing in much of Alaska and Canada) late in the 20th century, but now has a stable population. It has been officially removed from the U.S. federal government\\\'s list of endangered species.
