bald eagle

American  

noun

bald eagles plural

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

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• bald eagles
  plural

Etymology

Origin of bald eagle

An Americanism dating back to 1680–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bald eagle

“When a bald eagle was found in need near Big Bear Lake, an incredible team came together to make sure it received the care it deserved,” the agency said on Facebook.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

Outside, with complete rods, we cast on ponds as a resident bald eagle circled overhead.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026

It comes from a bald eagle known as "Old Abe" -- named for president Abraham Lincoln -- that served as a mascot to Union troops in over 30 battles in the US Civil War.

From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026

A young bald eagle has taken flight, leaving an empty nest in Big Bear Valley, California.

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026

All he saw was Dr. Taylor M. Martin and the bald eagle.

From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers