Bald Eagle Population Analysis
Bald Eagle has surged: up 120× on the route-weighted index since 1968.
About the Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a North American member of the Hawks, Eagles & Kites (Accipitridae). In this analysis it is grouped with the birds of prey.
- Size
- 17.5–39.5 in long (45–100 cm) — a medium to large raptor (typical for the family)
- Habitat
- Open country, woodlands, cliffs and wetlands, hunting from the air or a high perch.
- Diet
- Live prey — small mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and large insects (carrion for vultures).
- Range
- Recorded on 1,445 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 48 states, most concentrated in the Eastern Tallgrass Prairie.
- Family
- Accipitridae · Birds of prey
Notable Bald Eagle TrendsNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →
No notable trend signals for Bald Eagle. See the full index history below.
Bald Eagle Population Forecast
If the recent trend holds, Bald Eagle is projected to stay roughly flat through 2030, near 0.30 (95% range 0.25–0.35). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±12.6%, with 60% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
Where the Bald Eagle Is Detected
BBS routes recording Bald Eagle, sized by most recent count.
Bald Eagle Population Trend by State
Bald Eagle Population Trend by Region
Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.
Bald Eagle Conservation Status
Our route-weighted index shows it up about 11893% since 1968.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.