How Much Does a Bald Eagle Cost?


Written by:  Howmuchisit.org Staff

The bald eagle has been the U.S. national emblem since 1782.  Being a spiritual symbol for the native people in America for far longer than that, this regal bird is not really bald, but its white-feathered head gleams in contrast to its chocolate-brown body and wings.

In flight, the bald eagle holds its broad wings flat similar to a board. The bald eagle dwarfs a majority of other raptors, including the Red-tailed Hawk and the Turkey Vulture.

Once endangered by illegal hunting and poisoning through pesticides, bald eagles have really flourished under protection.

Bald eagles live near water bodies in Canada and Alaska, as well as in scattered locations throughout the lower 48 states and Mexico.

Bald Eagle by brendan.lally....away, on Flickr
Bald Eagle” (CC BY 2.0) by brendan.lally….away

How much does a bald eagle cost?

In the United States, all native migratory birds, such as the bald eagle, are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.  Eagles are further protected by various federal and state laws. It is illegal for one to have a protected bird in their possession unless an owner has the required permits.  Even the feathers are illegal. These permits are often offered to licensed wildlife rehabilitators that help for injured, sick and orphaned wild eagles, and permits are not offered for the purpose of keeping a bald eagle as a pet.  If interested, however, bald eagles are often valued at $3,000 to $5,000 from the research we did.

What are the extra costs?

You must have a special eagle permit, as mention, in addition to bald eagle rehabbing permits, which can cost around $500 to $1,000.

Even though fish is the primary food source for a bald eagle, they also feed on other animals and birds such as squirrels, prairie dogs, raccoons, and rabbits.  The average eagle will need to feed on at least a half of pound of food each day, but they don’t need to eat daily as they can store food in an area known as a crop.  Feeding a bald eagle can cost about $100 per month depending on the source of food.

A bald eagle habitat, when in captivity, needs to be considered.  This can include perches, trees and an atmosphere that mimics their natural surroundings.  A habitat can be compared to one as seen here.  The cost of a building a habitat can greatly depend on the size and inclusions but don’t be surprised it costs more than a thousand dollars to build.

Tips to know:

The average bald eagle weights eight to nine pounds and measures 34 to 43 inches long.  Its wingspan is close to seven and a half feet.  Males are slightly smaller than females, according to h20power.com.

In 2007, the bald eagle was removed from the Federal Endangered Species list, but they are still protected under other Federal Acts.

During breeding season, both the male and female work together to build a nest of sticks, generally located at the top of a tree.

The bald eagle is the only eagle that is unique to North America. The eagle’s distinctive brown body and its white head and tail make it easy to identify one from a distance. When flying, Bald Eagles very rarely flap their wings but instead soars, holding their wings almost completely flat.

The bald eagle has a large head, heavy body, and long, hooked bill. An adult bald eagle has a white head and tail with dark brown body and wings. Its hooked bill, legs and feet are bright yellow in color. Immature birds have got mostly dark heads and tails and their brown bodies and wings are mottled with white in diverse amounts.

The young birds will mature in five years.

The main habitat is near lakes, marshes, reservoirs, rivers and coasts.

Contact your local Department of Natural Resources of Fish and Game for more information if you’re interested in becoming a wildlife rehabilitator.

Even when in captivity, a bald eagle can live more than 30 years.


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