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Women on bridge Join today and get outside at one of our 60+ wildlife sanctuaries.

Find a Bird

Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus

The Bald Eagle is once again a breeding bird in Massachusetts. Since the banning of DDT in 1972, and with assistance from extensive hacking programs to help jumpstart the population, our national bird has at last returned to local lakes and rivers. Its breeding distribution in Massachusetts is still quite restricted, but new nests are being discovered almost annually. It remains an Endangered species in the Bay State.
Conservation Status
Monitor to Ensure Stability

Tracking This Bird In Massachusetts

Climate Vulnerability Score

Likely Vulnerable
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (current)
0.53
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (2050)
0.44
Mass Audubon Absolute change in likelihood of occurrence
-0.08
U.S. Forest Service Climate Change Bird Atlas (Hadly Hi emissions scenario)a
n/a
National Audubon Societyb
Climate Endangered
a USFS model data for Massachusetts by 2100
b National Audubon Society's Climate Change Atlas was completed on a continental scale.

Breeding Bird Atlas

Atlas I Blocks
0
Atlas II Blocks
71
Percent of state occupied - Atlas I
0
Percent of state occupied - Atlas II
7
Percent change
0

Breeding Bird Survey

Annual trend 1966-2010
P-value
Number of routes
Recent trend 2000-2010

Christmas Bird Count

Trend (1963-2008)
7.4
Significantly different than zero
yes
Trend (1963-1979)
-8.4
Significantly different than zero
no
Trend (1979-2008)
7.1
Significantly different than zero
yes
Christmas Bird Count Sightings By Year
Data reflects sightings per person per hour in order to account for varying numbers of yearly volunteers.

Habitat Usage

Breeding

Forested Wetland, Rivers, Lakes, and Ponds

Wintering

Rivers, Lakes, and Ponds

Climate Suitability Current and 2050