A North American eagle whose head and tail become white as it matures.
Adults are mostly brown with yellow bills and feet. Young birds are mottled brown and white, without the full adult pattern. They acquire the full adult plumage, including the white head, neck, and tail, at about four or five years old.
Bald Eagle recovery involved restoring breeding conditions. DDT and its breakdown products reached birds through food webs; DDE-related eggshell thinning reduced reproductive success.
The United States banned most DDT uses in 1972, followed by recovery. Field evidence and experiments linked chemical exposure to eggshell effects and breeding outcomes.
Nest protection, habitat management and reintroduction also contributed. Recovery led to lower-48 ESA delisting in 2007; agencies and local partners continue conservation work.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
Historical pressures included pesticide-related eggshell thinning and habitat loss. Chemical controls, nest and habitat protection and cooperation with landowners support recovery and conservation.