Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Residency: Winter resident throughout Arizona (migrates to Arizona during harsh northern winters). Lives year-round in some scattered areas of northeast Arizona.

Diet: Opportunistic feeder, but prefers fish. Also eats large birds (mainly waterfowl), carrion and some mammals such as rabbits.

Predators: Biggest threat is humans.

Nesting: In the fork of a large tree (rarely nests on ground or cliff ledges). Returns to same nest each year, adding sticks to create a massive platform. Nesting in Arizona occurs at lower elevations, mainly in the Salt and Verde Rivers watersheds. Lays 1-3 (usually 2) off-white eggs per clutch. One brood per year.

Nesting Record: Coon Bluff.

Notes: Very large raptor - up to 7-foot wingspan. Driven to near extinction by DDT poisoning and illegal killing – now making a comeback in North America. Federally-listed as an endangered species. Believed to mate for life, but will switch mates if reproduction is unsuccessful.

Photo: Taken at Coon Bluff on November 7, 2006. For more photos, click on camera icon.

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