A dark shape glides low over a river, then drops. Talons hit the water, and the bird rises with a fish, wings beating slowly. Up close you would see why people stop and stare: those wings stretch wider than a tall adult is tall.
A bald eagle is about 79–94 cm (31–37 in) long, with a wingspan of 178–229 cm (70–90 in) and an average weight of about 4.3 kg (9.5 lb), according to the Animal Diversity Web. Females are larger than males. Females can weigh up to about 6.4 kg (14 lb), and some Alaskan birds reach about 7.3 kg (16 lb) (US Fish and Wildlife Service).
Key takeaways
- Length: 79–94 cm (31–37 in).
- Wingspan: 178–229 cm (70–90 in), wider than most adults are tall.
- Weight: about 3–6.5 kg (6.5–14 lb); females are the bigger sex.
- Record nests: one Florida nest was 2.9 m (9.5 ft) wide, 6.1 m (20 ft) deep and weighed nearly 2.7 tonnes (6,000 lb).
How big is a bald eagle compared with a person?
A bald eagle’s body is 79–94 cm long, about the height of a toddler. With wings open, it spans 1.78–2.29 m, so even a small bald eagle has wings wider than most adult people are tall (ADW). Yet it is surprisingly light, at about 4.3 kg on average.
That is about the weight of a large house cat. Its feathers alone weigh about 700 g, roughly twice as much as its skeleton (ADW).
Picture it: wingspans to scale
Wingspan in centimetres. Each bar is drawn to scale, with the widest at 229 cm.
Philippine eagle: about 190
Golden eagle: 185–220
Bald eagle: 178–229
Sources: ADW (bald and golden eagle); The Peregrine Fund (Philippine eagle).
Is a bald eagle bigger than a golden eagle?
They are close in size. A bald eagle is 79–94 cm long and weighs about 4.3 kg on average. A golden eagle is 70–84 cm long, with a wingspan of 185–220 cm and a weight of 3–6.1 kg (ADW). Bald eagles tend to be a little longer, but the weight ranges overlap a lot.
For the full picture, see how big the golden eagle is.
| Eagle | Length | Wingspan | Weight | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bald eagle | 79–94 cm (31–37 in) | 178–229 cm (70–90 in) | About 3–6.5 kg (6.5–14 lb) | ADW; Smithsonian’s National Zoo |
| Golden eagle | 70–84 cm (28–33 in) | 185–220 cm (73–87 in) | 3–6.1 kg (6.6–13.5 lb) | ADW |
| Philippine eagle | 76–102 cm (2.5–3.3 ft) | About 1.9 m (6.5 ft) | 4.5–8.1 kg (10–18 lb) | The Peregrine Fund |
Is the bald eagle the biggest eagle?
No. The bald eagle has one of the widest wingspans, but the Philippine eagle is longer and heavier: 76–102 cm long and 4.5–8.1 kg, according to The Peregrine Fund. Fewer than 500 Philippine eagles are thought to remain. Read more about the largest eagle in the world.
Why are female bald eagles bigger?
In bald eagles, as in many birds of prey, females are larger than males. Females can weigh up to 6.4 kg (14 lb) and have a wingspan up to about 2.4 m (8 ft), while males reach about 4.5 kg (10 lb) and 1.8 m (6 ft) (US Fish and Wildlife Service). Both sexes look the same, so size is one of the few ways to tell them apart.
What adaptations help a bald eagle?
Bald eagles are built to find and grab fish. Large, forward-facing eyes likely give excellent depth vision (ADW), and keen, full-colour vision is their most developed sense (Smithsonian’s National Zoo). Sharp, strong talons grip slippery prey, and broad wings let them soar for long periods.
- Structural: broad wings for soaring; strong talons; feathers that weigh about twice the skeleton (ADW).
- Behavioural: bald eagles are opportunists. They prefer fish but also eat waterbirds, eggs and carrion, and sometimes steal food from other birds (ADW).
- Physiological: they can go several days without food (ADW).
Want to know how high they fly? See how high an eagle can fly.
How big is a bald eagle nest?
Bald eagle nests are huge. A typical nest is 1.2–1.5 m (4–5 ft) wide and 0.6–1.2 m (2–4 ft) deep. The record nest, in St. Petersburg, Florida, was 2.9 m (9.5 ft) across, 6.1 m (20 ft) deep and weighed nearly 2.7 tonnes (6,000 lb) (US Fish and Wildlife Service). Nests grow because pairs reuse and add to them year after year. Read how eagles raise their chicks.
What role do bald eagles play, and are they endangered?
Bald eagles are top predators and scavengers of rivers, lakes and coasts, and help clear dead animals. In the 1960s the pesticide DDT thinned their eggshells, and by 1963 only 417 nesting pairs were known in the lower 48 US states. After DDT was banned in 1972 they recovered, and in 2018–2019 there were about 316,700 bald eagles in the lower 48 (USFWS).
BirdLife International, which assesses birds for the IUCN Red List, lists the species as Least Concern (BirdLife). Watch eagles from a distance, especially near nests, and use lead-free fishing tackle where you can.
Myths about bald eagles
Myth: Bald eagles are bald.
Fact: Their heads are covered in white feathers. Adults reach full plumage in about their fifth year (ADW). In older English, “bald” could mean white-headed.
Myth: Bald eagles usually have wingspans of 2.6 m or more.
Fact: Measured ranges top out around 2.3 m (ADW). The Smithsonian’s “up to 2.6 m (8.5 ft)” is an upper limit, not a typical size.
Test yourself
1. Which is bigger in bald eagles, males or females?
Females.
2. What is the bald eagle’s wingspan?
About 178–229 cm (70–90 in).
3. Which eagle is heavier, bald or Philippine?
The Philippine eagle, at up to about 8.1 kg.
Where to next?
➡️ Go wider: the largest eagle in the world⬆️ Go deeper: how eagles reproduce🔀 Go sideways: how big the golden eagle is
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bald eagle weigh?
About 3 to 6.5 kg (6.5 to 14 lb), with an average near 4.3 kg (9.5 lb). Females are heavier than males, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service notes that some Alaskan eagles reach about 7.3 kg (16 lb).
How tall is a bald eagle?
From beak tip to tail tip, a bald eagle is about 79 to 94 cm (31 to 37 in) long. Perched upright, it looks a little shorter than that.
How long do bald eagles live?
Wild bald eagles usually live 15 to 20 years, and the oldest known wild bird reached 28. In captivity they typically live 20 to 30 years, with a record of 47 years, according to the Animal Diversity Web.
Sources
- Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan. Haliaeetus leucocephalus.
- US Fish and Wildlife Service. Bald eagle.
- Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. Bald eagle.
- Animal Diversity Web. Aquila chrysaetos.
- The Peregrine Fund. Philippine eagle.
- BirdLife International. Bald eagle species factsheet.
Sources checked 12 October 2026.
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