bald eagle

noun

: an eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) of North America that is brown when young with white only on the undersides of the wings but in full adult plumage has white head and neck feathers and a white tail

Illustration of bald eagle

Examples of bald eagle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At the top of the food chain, the bald eagle dominates in the sky alone with its impressive wingspan and sharp talons. —Sarah Raza, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2026

In 2004, citing it as much a symbol of America as Thanksgiving Day and the bald eagle, Congress designated the oak as America’s national tree. —Joseph Bonasia, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 May 2026

Students at a California elementary school are banding together to raise awareness and money to save the bald eagle hunting area at San Bernardino National Forest's Big Bear Valley, home of the viral bald eagles Jackie and Shadow. —Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 14 May 2026

The mural includes a Native American war horse, the Castle Rock (complete with star and flag), a bald eagle, and the Montezuma locomotive. —Olivia Young, CBS News, 13 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bald eagle

• beagle
• legal
• regal
• riegel
• spiegel
• extralegal
• paralegal
• illegal
• viceregal
• medicolegal

Kids Definition

bald eagle

noun

: a North American eagle which is mostly brown when young but has white head, neck, and tail feathers when mature