If you were to pick your favorite birds, I would guess that the majority of you would have the mighty bald eagle somewhere on that list.
And I don’t blame you – with its incredible stature, striking brown feathers, coupled with the beautiful white feathers on its head and golden yellow beak – this proud predator is the king or queen of the skies.
While on the subject of kings and queens, at a glance, it may not seem there are many differences between the genders of these great birds. But that’s not the case. So let’s dive in, and take a look at the key differences between the male and female bald eagle.
Size and Physical Appearance
The female can reach a size of 35 to 37 inches, while the males range between 30 to 34 inches. So, if you want to try and differentiate between a male and female bald eagle, the bigger the physical appearance, the more likely it is to be a female, is the rule to go by.
Beak Shape and Size
When it comes to that all-important eating tool; the beak, due to the female being a somewhat larger bird, it is also true that their beaks are larger too. The width from the top of the beak to the eagle’s chin is the way to measure, and the female has a much deeper beak.
Plumage Coloration and Patterns
Male and female bald eagles cannot be differentiated on coloration and patterns (a stark contrast to humans). They are identical – brown feathered body, white head, yellow beak. They’re not a species to go for a different hairstyle at the barber’s.
Eye Colour
The same is true of their eye color. Both males and females go through the same color process – brown eyes for the first five years of life, which turn yellow for adulthood. Yellow eyes might be a bit too scary for me.
Sounds
We humans know how to make a lot of noise, and I couldn’t say which gender is louder. The difference between a male bald eagle’s and a female bald eagle’s call is ever so slight. The female often has a lower-pitched call, whereas the male has a higher one.
Nesting
When it comes to that all-important period of life; raising your offspring, the bald eagle follows a familiar pattern to much of the animal kingdom. It is generally the mother who does the majority of the incubation of the eggs and guards their babies once born.
During this time, the male eagle takes on the role of the hunter, finding and bringing food to the nest to keep their young fed. Much harder than simply popping into the shops.
Migration Patterns
The migration patterns of bald eagles are complex and tend to depend on food availability and weather conditions. More often than not, they return to the same wintering grounds.
Being an animal that mates for life, males and females follow the same routes, although, for some reason, the male will return to a nesting site some days or weeks before the female.
Hunting and Feeding Habits
Due to the male’s smaller build, they are much better hunters, able to expertly catch any fish near the surface of the water. The female’s larger build allows them to sit on their nests longer and deter predators.
If they were to write a grocery shopping list, the majority of that would include fish. Both males and females love fish, but smaller land mammals should also be wary as these birds aren’t picky when it comes to dinner.
Life Expectancy and Maturity
We don’t know if male or female bald eagles live longer. Out in the wild bald eagles can range from 15 to 25 years (being far up the food chain they don’t have many predators).
As eaglets, they are a light gray color and fluffy. If you think driving is daunting, then imagine flying, which is what these brave birds do as they mature at 12 weeks old.
Territory and Home Range
The bald eagle are North American bird, extremely popular in Alaska but can be seen even at the Mexico border. This doesn’t differ from male to female; they are very committed birds (maybe there’s a softness under their intense stature, after all).
They are incredibly territorial during nesting season, often getting into fights with both males and females and sending warning calls to intruding eagles. While the pair may be committed to each other, anyone outside their family best be warned – these territorial battles can lead to a fight to the death.
Parental Care and Offspring Rearing
This has already been touched on slightly, but it is widely known that the female does the majority of the nesting, watching over their young like protective mothers. The father will do a lot of the hunting, but they can take a few shifts looking over the nest and their young.
Conservation Status and Population Dynamics
Thankfully, the bald eagle is now listed as ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN’s endangered species list. This a huge relief from 1982 when this bird was considered endangered due to their biggest hunters: humans. Also, with the regulation of pesticides, these beautiful birds are beginning to flourish again.
FAQs
Do Female Bald Eagles Have White Heads?
Yes, female bald eagles do indeed have white heads. Other than their size, their look is no different from that of the males. At a young age, male and female eaglets are born with gray, fluffy feathers, which, after many weeks, turn into the iconic brown and white feathers we have all come to love.
How Can You Tell a Female Bald Eagle from a Male Bald Eagle?
Female bald eagles generally tend to be larger birds. But unless you’ve got some good binoculars, I wouldn’t want to get that close to finding out – considering how territorial they are. Females are known to have a lower decibel call, but this can be very hard to register to the human ear.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it. The biggest difference between males and females is their size. These magnificent birds are an extremely committed species, the males and females working together to make their nests and protect their young.
The bigger build of the females allows them to sit in their nests longer and watch over their homes, while their male partner dives into the rivers or grasslands looking for that much-needed food.
An endless cycle of survival, mating for life, and proving themselves as one of the mightiest predators in the food chain. Long may they continue!
