Bald Eagle
Learn to identify the Bald Eagle by ear. Master the "klee-klee-klee-klee" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.
What the Bald Eagle sounds like
A Bald Eagle looks built from bold strokes: huge wings, a blocky body, and a heavy bill that seems made for power. Adults flash a bright white head and tail against chocolate-brown plumage, while younger birds wear a mottled brown-and-white patchwork that can surprise first-time birders.
“klee-klee-klee-klee”
How to tell it apart
Lessons featuring the Bald Eagle
Ready to test your ear? Practice identifying the Bald Eagle's sounds in this interactive in-app lesson.
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Where you'll hear it
Look for them near big water—lakes, rivers, reservoirs, estuaries, and rugged coasts—where fish are plentiful and tall perches are close by. They like big trees, snags, cliffs, and anywhere they can watch the water from above.
Spring brings courtship flights, nest repairs, and the start of a very long nesting season. In winter, numbers can swell around open rivers, dams, coastlines, and salmon runs, where eagles may gather in impressive groups.
Similar species
Golden Eagle
Usually found more often over open country, mountains, and cliffs than big water.
Turkey Vulture
Holds wings in a shallow V and rocks side to side while soaring.
Osprey
Much smaller, with narrower wings and a crook at the wrist that gives an M-shaped look.