Although once abundant, some eagles are becoming rare and face extinction. One rare species is the bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, the national emblem of the United States. Although protected by law, some large eagles are killed by farmers and gamekeepers or captured for use in falconry. In addition, the bald eagle, like other birds, has been affected by the widespread use of pesticides that, ingested, can weaken eggs. Photo Courtesy of Greg Winston.
All eagles have large, heavy, hooked bills and strong, sharp claws called talons.
They are usually brown, black, or gray, sometimes with markings on the head, neck, wings, or tail. The rest of its plumage is brown, except for its white tail. They have very sharp eyesight and hunt while soaring high in the air or watching from a high perch. The eagles swoop down at great speed to make the kill with their powerful talons. With talons and beak they pull apart a prey that is too heavy to carry.