But eagles are not always as bold and fierce as they look. Eagles are careful to avoid danger. They usually stay away from human beings and rarely attack except when cornered. A few species of eagles also may attack when defending their nests and young. An eagle's chief weapons are its powerful legs, feet, and claws.
Some eagles also bite in self-defense, or when they feel threatened.
The eagle is also used as a symbol for many peoples and organizations. The United States uses the eagle as a symbol of power and freedom and has since 1782.Roman warriors used a golden figure of an eagle as a sign of strength and bravery. Russian and Austrian emperors also used eagles as symbols. The bald eagle is not quite the graceful hunter and noble it is thoguht to be. Compared to other eagles, the bald eagle is a relatively clumsy hunter and fisher, and its prey relies heavily on dead or injured fish, or those that come to shallow water to spawn.