Wildlife at the MacKenzie Center

Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Description: The bald eagle does not get its white head and tail feathers until it matures at four to five years of age. Until then, it is all brown and may be confused with the golden eagle. Mature eagles have a wing span of up to 7 ½ feet and weigh 8-10 pounds.

Habitat: Bald eagles usually live and nest near water in the northern part of the state. Nests are built of sticks in tall trees and can be huge. During winter when the water freezes, eagles migrate south and can be seen where there is open water along the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers, usually below dams.

Diet: Bald eagles primarily eat fish. They will also eat injured waterfowl, muskrats, squirrels and even carrion.

Habits: Eagles are often seen perched in a tree or snag waiting for a fish to surface. They are incredible soarers, riding air currents high into the sky. Occasionally eagles that have grabbed a large fish have been seen swimming to shore, doing a sort of breaststroke with their wings.

Bald Eagles and People: Not long ago the bald eagle was on the endangered list in Wisconsin and throughout most of the country. Loss of nest trees, human disturbance at nest sites, pollution of their food by pesticides and illegal shooting are all reasons for the past decline in eagle populations. Since 1975, eagles have made a dramatic comeback in Wisconsin.

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