bald eagle

American  

noun

1. a large, fish-eating eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, of the U.S. and Canada, having dark golden-brown back and wings, and white plumage on the head and tail in the adult: some recently endangered populations are now recovering.

---

bald eagle British  

noun

1. a large eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus , of North America, having a white head and tail, a yellow bill, and dark wings and body. It is the US national bird

---

Etymology

Origin of bald eagle

An Americanism dating back to 1680–90

Example Sentences

When Big Bear’s celebrity bald eagle couple’s eggs were eaten by ravens in late January, they didn’t grieve alone.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

Now, despite being impressive physical specimens, there is one bald eagle trait that doesn’t live up to what you might have seen on television—the patented bald eagle scream.

From Slate • Feb. 21, 2026

How’s the eyesight out of a rubber bald eagle mask?

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

It was also attended by an eager trio of young men wearing rubber bald eagle masks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

Braviary wouldn’t yet look like his bald eagle mom or dad.

From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers