9781422287439

14 Bald Eagle: The Story of Our National Bird

The inside of this Greek cup is decorated with an image of the god Zeus and an eagle. In mythology, Zeus

was represented by an eagle, and the ancient Greeks considered the birds sacred.

backs of their heads and necks are golden, giving the species its name. Golden eagles are found in Europe, North America, Africa, and Australia, mostly in moun- tainous regions. They are cousins of the American bald eagles, which are known as sea eagles because they are fish eaters. Bald eagles were originally found along America’s coasts, although in recent years bird counters have spotted bald eagles in all states except Hawaii. When European settlers arrived in America in the late 1600s and early 1700s, they found many bald eagles. Early bird watchers reported finding at least one nest of eagles for every mile of coastline along the Chesapeake Bay. Eagles were also extremely abundant along the Hudson River in New York and the coast of Maine. Adult females are larger than adult males. The female grows to a length of 35 to 37 inches; the male is slightly shorter, usually between 30 and 34 inches. Female wingspan reaches from 79 to 96 inches, while the male

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