The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States of America. Known for its distinctive brown body and white head, the bald eagle is a powerful and skilled predator. One of the bald eagle’s most impressive features is its massive wingspan. But just how wide do these iconic birds’ wings stretch when fully extended?
Quick Answer
An adult bald eagle has a wingspan of between 6 and 7.5 feet on average. The largest wingspans on record are over 8 feet wide. Females tend to be larger than males.
Measuring a Bald Eagle’s Wingspan
A bald eagle’s wingspan is the distance from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other when the wings are fully spread out. This measurement is taken on a live, perched eagle with wings extended horizontally.
Wingspan is one of the defining physical features of any bird species. Along with information on weight, height, and wing area, it provides important data about the size and flight capabilities of the bird.
For bald eagles, some key facts about wingspan are:
- The average wingspan for an adult bald eagle is between 6 and 7.5 feet.
- Females tend to be larger than males, so they have a greater wingspan on average.
- Northern birds are larger than southern birds on average.
- The largest recorded wingspans are over 8 feet across.
- Juvenile bald eagles have smaller wingspans that increase as they mature.
Wingspan ranges are broad for eagles because there are variations across individuals, sexes, and geographic areas. However, the widespread average for an adult bald eagle falls between 6 and 7.5 feet.
Comparison of Wingspans
To fully appreciate the impressive wingspan of the bald eagle, it helps to compare it to other birds:
Bird | Average Wingspan |
---|---|
Bald eagle | 6 to 7.5 feet |
California condor | 9.5 to 10.5 feet |
Trumpeter swan | 7 to 8 feet |
Red-tailed hawk | 3 to 4.5 feet |
Roseate spoonbill | 3.5 to 4 feet |
Great horned owl | 3.5 to 5 feet |
Snowy owl | 4.5 to 5 feet |
This comparison shows that while not the absolute largest, the bald eagle has one of the most sizable wingspans of North American birds. The California condor is the only bird native to the U.S. and Canada with a significantly larger average wingspan. Birds with similar or only slightly smaller spans include swans, which the eagle competes with for food and habitat.
The eagle’s wingspan easily dwarfs smaller raptors like hawks and owls. This allows the bald eagle to claim territory and assert dominance over these birds.
Purpose of Large Wingspan
So why did the bald eagle evolve such a broad wingspan? The size and power of the bald eagle’s wings serve several key purposes:
Flight
A larger wingspan generates more lift and thrust to get the eagle’s large body off the ground and keep it soaring. The expansive wings allow the bald eagle to take flight from a standing start and quickly get airborne.
Maneuverability
The broad wings give the bald eagle maneuverability in flight to swoop, turn, and dive with acute precision. This aids with hunting agility and dogfighting territorial battles.
Speed
The bald eagle’s huge wings also allow it to gain speed while diving at prey. Eagles can reach speeds over 100 mph while folding their wings into a streamlined, torpedo-like shape.
Intimidation
The bald eagle uses its imposing wingspan to intimidate competitors and assert its dominance. By extending its wings, an eagle can make itself appear much larger.
With these attributes, the bald eagle’s large wingspan provides key evolutionary advantages for its predatory lifestyle.
Wingspan on Record
While 6 to 7.5 feet is the average bald eagle wingspan, some individuals have reached record sizes. According to measurements, the largest wingspans ever verified were:
- 8 feet 2 inches – An eagle shot in Alaska in 1977
- 8 feet – An eagle measured in Wisconsin in 2015
- 8 feet – Another Wisconsin eagle measured in 2020
Additional unverified reports have claimed eagle wingspans up to 10 or 12 feet. However, these outlying measurements are likely exaggerated or miscalculated. Verifiable evidence confirms that bald eagles over 8 feet across are extremely rare.
Wingspan by Region
Average wingspans can vary slightly across different bald eagle populations:
Alaska
The largest bald eagles are typically found in Alaska, where adult wingspans average 6.5 to 7.5 feet across. The huge Alaska-Yukon eagles represent the northernmost and largest race.
Canada
Bald eagles breeding in Canada’s temperate coasts and forests also tend to be larger than populations further south. Average wingspans are 6 to 7 feet.
Florida
At the southern limit of their range in Florida, bald eagles are smaller on average. Wingspans in the population here run 5.9 to 6.6 feet across.
This trend shows that wingspans tend to increase with latitude, with northern bald eagles larger than southern counterparts. Colder climates seem to favor bigger birds, possibly because larger size conserves heat better.
Wingspan by Sex
In addition to geographic variation, bald eagle wingspans differ based on sex:
- Females – 7 to 8 feet wingspan on average
- Males – 6 to 7 feet wingspan on average
As with many raptors, female bald eagles are bigger and bulkier than males. Their greater size allows them to produce and incubate eggs as well as dominate some prey and habitats.
This sexual dimorphism results in females averaging about 1 foot larger wingspan than males, though ranges overlap extensively.
Wingspan Over Time
Bald eagle wingspans increase over their lifespan as the birds grow and mature:
Hatchlings
Newly hatched bald eagles emerge from eggs less than 5 inches long and weighing only a few ounces. Their tiny wings are folded against their bodies.
Fledglings
Once bald eaglets take their first flight around 10-13 weeks, their wingspans rapidly increase to about 5 feet as they grow flight feathers.
Juveniles
In their first year after leaving the nest, bald eagles have wingspans around 5.5 to 6 feet. Their wings continue growing as the birds mature.
Subadults
From age 2 to 4 years, bald eagles are considered subadults. Their wingspans reach about 75% to 90% of adult size.
Adults
Only after age 5 do bald eagles attain full maturity and maximum wingspan size. Adult plumage also emerges at this stage.
Tracking wingspans over a bald eagle’s life shows the rapid growth from helpless hatchling to powerful adult within 5 years.
Conclusion
With a wingspan averaging 6 to 7.5 feet across, the bald eagle has one of the broadest ranges of any North American bird. This gives it great speed, agility, and power to hunt and soar. Next time you spot a bald eagle in flight, take a moment to appreciate the massive spread of its iconic wings.