The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States and a symbol of the country’s spirit and freedom. Once an endangered species, bald eagle populations have rebounded in recent decades thanks to conservation efforts. But where in the country can you find the highest concentrations of these majestic birds? Let’s take a closer look at bald eagle populations across different regions of the United States.
Northeast
The Northeastern United States offers excellent bald eagle habitat, especially along the Atlantic coastline and major river systems. The Chesapeake Bay area, including Maryland and Virginia, is home to more than 1,500 nesting pairs of bald eagles. Further north, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and upstate New York also have thriving bald eagle populations numbering in the hundreds of pairs. Key factors supporting bald eagles in the Northeast include abundant waterways with fish for feeding and plenty of mature trees for nesting and roosting.
Maine
With its rugged coastline, northern forests, and clean rivers and lakes, Maine provides prime bald eagle habitat. Survey data from 2019 counted 634 occupied bald eagle nest territories in the state. That’s up from just 21 nesting pairs in all of Maine in 1967. Major strongholds include the Down East coastline, Moosehead Lake region, and the Penobscot River valley.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire’s bald eagle population has also soared in recent decades. The 2019 statewide survey identified 161 occupied bald eagle territories, predominantly along the state’s lakes and major rivers. Top areas include the Connecticut Lakes region, Lake Winnipesaukee, Merrimack River, and Androscoggin River.
Vermont
Vermont provides excellent habitat for bald eagles, especially in the Champlain Valley flanking Lake Champlain. The 2019 survey confirmed 109 occupied bald eagle nesting territories in the state. Other prime areas include the Connecticut River valley in eastern Vermont and the Otter Creek and Poultney River corridors.
Upstate New York
Some of the best places to see bald eagles in New York State are along major rivers and lakes in the upstate regions. The 2019 survey recorded 218 occupied nesting territories. Key bald eagle habitats include the Hudson River valley, Finger Lakes, Lake Ontario shoreline, Lake Champlain islands, and the Saint Lawrence River region.
Southeast
The Southeastern United States provides abundant wetland habitat supporting strong bald eagle populations, especially along the Atlantic and Gulf coastlines. Florida has one of the highest breeding populations, along with growing numbers of eagles wintering there. Other Southeastern states with hundreds of bald eagle pairs include Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
Florida
With an estimated 1,500 active nests, Florida has one of the highest bald eagle populations in the lower 48 states. Prime habitats are wetland areas like the Everglades, Lake Okeechobee, Kissimmee River valley, and chain of lakes across central Florida. Many bald eagles are year-round residents, while northern migrants swell the wintering population. Eagles are found statewide but are most abundant along the Gulf coast, inland lakes, Central Florida, and the Atlantic coast north of Miami.
Georgia
Georgia’s bald eagle population has rebounded significantly, with over 260 occupied nesting territories reported in 2019. Coastal areas like the Okefenokee Swamp region, Altamaha River delta, and Cumberland Island National Seashore provide critical habitat. Inland nesting areas include major reservoirs and waterways like Lake Sidney Lanier, Lake Allatoona, Lake Seminole, and Chattahoochee River.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a stronghold for southern bald eagle populations. The 2019 survey documented over 275 pairs, with the highest densities along the coast and in reservoirs and inland wetland areas like Santee Lakes and Kentucky Lakes. The Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge is a major bald eagle habitat area.
North Carolina
North Carolina’s bald eagle population has expanded to over 200 active nesting territories statewide as of 2019. Coastal plain areas like Bull Bay, Pettigrew State Park, and Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge host significant concentrations. Mountain habitats like Fontana Lake, John H. Kerr Reservoir, and Lake James also support bald eagle nesting.
Midwest
The Midwest offers key habitat for bald eagles among the region’s many lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan have some of the highest breeding populations, thanks to an abundance of freshwater ecosystems. Eagles can also be found along major rivers farther south like the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Illinois.
Minnesota
With over 800 known active territories, Minnesota has one of the highest bald eagle populations in the lower 48 states. Key habitat areas include the northern boreal forest, Boundary Waters Canoe Area, and North Shore of Lake Superior. The forests, lakes and rivers of central and northern Minnesota host the majority of the state’s bald eagles.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is another Midwestern bald eagle stronghold, with over 1,500 occupied nesting territories as of 2019. The Door Peninsula, Horicon Marsh, and Apostle Islands regions contain significant populations. The Lower Wisconsin and Mississippi River corridors also provide important habitat.
Michigan
Michigan’s Great Lakes shorelines, inland lakes, and wetland areas support over 800 bald eagle pairs. The Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula have the highest density of nesting eagles. Key sites include the Rouge River National Wetland, Seney National Wildlife Refuge, and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Iowa
While not as high as states to the north, Iowa’s bald eagle population has grown to over 400 active nests. The 2019 survey found the densest concentrations along the Mississippi River corridor, Cedar River Basin, and Des Moines River area.
Missouri
Missouri’s bald eagle population has expanded in recent years to around 400 active nesting territories. Prime habitats include the Mississippi River and floodplain, Missouri River region, Table Rock Lake, and Stockton Lake.
Southwest
The arid landscapes and scarcity of large waterways in the Southwest result in lower bald eagle populations in most states. However, areas with adequate prey and nesting sites along rivers and lakes support breeding populations, primarily in winter months.
Arizona
While not typically thought of as bald eagle habitat, Arizona hosts around 40 nesting territories. Strongholds include higher elevation riparian areas like the Verde River and Salt River watersheds. The lakes of the White Mountains region also support small populations.
New Mexico
Sparse but widespread bald eagle nesting occurs in New Mexico, primarily along riparian corridors. Confirmed territories can be found along the Rio Grande, Pecos River, Canadian River, and Gila River. Reservoirs like Navajo Lake and Elephant Butte also provide habitat.
Texas
Most of Texas’ bald eagle population is concentrated along coastal areas in winter. But around 35 nesting territories have been documented in recent years, mostly clustered around reservoir lakes. Key sites include Lake Texoma, Lake Buchanan, and Amistad National Recreation Area.
Northwest
The Northwest’s extensive shorelines, rivers, lakes and abundant salmon runs allow robust bald eagle populations across the region. Washington and Oregon have some of the highest densities outside Alaska, particularly in coastal and riparian zones.
Washington
With over 1,100 occupied territories, more bald eagles nest in Washington than any other state outside Alaska. The densest populations occur along the Pacific Coast, Puget Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca, San Juan Islands, and lower Columbia River. Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area also hosts many nesting eagles.
Oregon
Oregon provides prime bald eagle habitat, resulting in a population of over 700 nesting pairs as of 2019. Major strongholds include the Columbia River estuary, Willamette Valley, Rogue River, Deschutes River, Klamath Basin, and Oregon Coast.
Idaho
Idaho’s bald eagle population has grown dramatically in recent decades, with around 300 occupied nesting territories confirmed in 2019. The densest concentrations occur along the Snake River Plain, Payette River, upper Salmon River, and along reservoirs like C.J. Strike and American Falls.
Montana
Montana hosts over 500 nesting bald eagle pairs, especially in riparian habitats along the Missouri River system and other major western drainages. Key areas include the National Bison Range, Flathead River and Lake Koocanusa.
Alaska
Alaska is the undisputed bald eagle capital, home to an estimated 30,000 birds. The vast coastlines, salmon runs, and inland lakes and rivers provide unparalleled habitat. Bald eagles can be found throughout Alaska but are most plentiful in the Southeast panhandle region.
Southeast Alaska
Southeast Alaska accounts for an astounding 50% of the bald eagle population in the United States. Habitats like the Tongass National Forest support the world’s highest nesting density, with concentrations of up to 1 nest per square mile in prime areas like the Chilkat River valley. Admiralty Island alone has an estimated 1,600 occupied bald eagle territories.
Southwest Alaska
Southwest Alaska hosts significantly lower densities of bald eagles than Southeast. However, major rivers like the Kvichak and Nushagak still support substantial populations feeding on salmon runs and nesting in shoreline forests. Concentrations also occur around the Alaska Peninsula.
Interior and Arctic Alaska
Bald eagles can be found across Interior and Arctic Alaska but at much lower densities than coastal areas. Riparian corridors like the Yukon, Tanana and Kuskokwim Rivers provide essential nesting and feeding habitat. Small localized populations inhabit areas like the Seward Peninsula and Gates of the Arctic National Park.
Conclusion
In summary, the region of the United States with the highest density of bald eagles is clearly Southeast Alaska. This area harbors an estimated 15,000 bald eagle pairs, far exceeding any other part of the country. Other leading bald eagle strongholds include the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes states in the northern tier. Wetland habitats in Florida and other parts of the Southeast also support robust populations. While eagles have rebounded across much of the lower 48 states, the remote coastlines and salmon resources of Alaska provide bald eagles their best habitat.
Region | Bald Eagle Population Estimate |
---|---|
Southeast Alaska | 15,000 pairs |
Pacific Northwest | 2,800 pairs |
Northern Midwest | 2,200 pairs |
Northeast | 1,500 pairs |
Southeast | 1,275 pairs |
Northern Rockies | 900 pairs |
Southern Midwest | 400 pairs |
Southwest | 100 pairs |