Bald eagle - the national bird of United states of America.

Bald eagle is the national bird of United states of America. It is Canada's largest bird of prey. This is an opportunistic feeder bird which subsists mainly on fish and which was on the brink of extirpation in the continental United States in the 20th century. It is found near large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply and old-growth trees for nesting. Its range includes most of Canada and Alaska, all of the contiguous United States, and northern Mexico. The bird is actually not bald but white headed. Bald eagles weigh from ten to fourteen pounds. Bald eagles have 7,000 feathers. The bald eagle is a strong swimmer, but if the water is very cold, it may be overcome by hypothermia. All eagles are renowned for their excellent eyesight. An eagle reaches sexual maturity at around four or five years of age. Bald eagles are about three feet tall, but their wings can span six to eight feet from tip to tip! Imagine a bald eagle’s wings stretching from floor to ceiling in a typical house. Bald eagles have lived up to 48 years in zoos, although their life span in the wild is likely far shorter Bald eagles lay from one to three eggs. Bald eagles are believed to mate for life. Once paired, bald eagles remain with each other until one mate dies, then the surviving bird will find another mate. The female lays her first egg 5-10 days after mating. The eggs are incubated for about 35 days. Immature bald eagles don’t develop their distinctive white head and tail until they are between 4 and 5 years old. The largest bald eagle nest on record was 9.5 ft (3 m) wide and 20 ft (6 m) high. It weighed more than two tons. When a bald eagle loses a feather on one wing, it will lose a feather on the other in order to keep its balance. Young eagles are called eaglets and are light grey and fluffy when they first hatch. Their feathers turn dark brown when they're about 12 weeks old and ready to leave the nest. The Bald Eagle is a sacred bird in some North American cultures, and its feathers, like those of the Golden Eagle, are central to many religious and spiritual customs among Native Americans.  Eagles are considered spiritual messengers between gods and humans by some cultures. Many pow wow dancers use the eagle claw as part of their regalia as well.  Eagle feathers are often used in traditional ceremonies, particularly in the construction of regalia worn and as a part of fans, bustles and head dresses.