Do Bald Eagles Mate For Life?

bald eagle (White-headed catfish) is the national bird of the United States. These majestic birds can be seen in suitable habitats from Alaska to Mexico, including each of the lower 48 states of the United States.

They are known for being loyal partners in co-raising chicks. So how do bald eagles pair up? Will they be together?

Bald eagles are usually monogamous. The bonded pair will mate for life until either dies. Their bond ensures that both parents can care for the chicks, ultimately increasing their chances of survival. Bald eagles are partial migrants and reunite each year to use the same nest.

They mate at the breeding grounds, and the couple perform various courtship rituals to strengthen their bond. These actions range from acrobatic death-defying acts to tender displays of affection.

Generally, bald eagles are monogamous, and the conjoined mate is a life-long mate

Most birds are monogamous, although their union usually lasts only one season or breeding cycle. The deep bond between a pair of bald eagles can last for years, which is why these birds are said to mate for life.

Not all bald eagles are the shining paragons of loyalty we once thought, scientists have discovered. Some cheating is bound to happen, mostly where these birds are present in high densities.

In these cases, the pair will stick together, although the male may not raise his own offspring. There haven’t been many detailed studies of this behavior, so we’re not sure how much cheating there is.

This article reveals the close relationship between breeding vultures. Read on to learn why these birds stick together and how they show affection.

A pair of bald eagles – one perched while the other is about to land

Why do bald eagles mate for life?

Like all extant species, bald eagles are keen to see their genes carried over to the next generation. The most obvious benefit of monogamy is that it encourages both parents to participate in the care of their children, which greatly increases their chances of survival.

Finding new mates and building a nest from scratch at the start of each breeding season also takes unnecessary effort, which is another reason why monogamy works so well. In a worst-case scenario, bald eagles can miss an entire breeding season if they fail to find a healthy mate.

So it makes sense that long-lived birds like the bald eagle would form stable pairs and be better at raising chicks through combined experience. Experienced hawk pairs also tend to raise a brood of healthier chicks. Bald Eagle pairs work together in nearly all aspects of nesting.

Read on to learn more about their shared responsibilities.

A pair of bald eagles nesting inside a nest

Build and repair their nests

Bald eagles build huge nests, which are enlarged each breeding season as they bring in more and more material. A new pair of birds usually starts nesting before the breeding season is over before leaving for migration. After returning from the migration, they will continue where they left off.

Nest Sites and Territory Defense

Bald eagles are very territorial during the breeding season. At this time of year they will fight the invaders viciously, sometimes to the death.

egg hatching

Both male and female bald eagles develop hatching patches and sit on the eggs. However, females tend to spend more time hatching than males.

feed the chicks

During the first two weeks after the eggs hatch, female bald eagles spend more time in the nest than males. The male will bring back most of the food at this time, but over the next few weeks, she will bring back as much food as her mate.

Adult bald eagle feeding chicks in nest

Do all bald eagles mate for life?

Bald eagles usually mate for life, but there are exceptions. Hawk pairs that fail to raise healthy chicks may choose different partners. If a bird disappears or fails to return from migration, the remaining mates also accept a new mate, sometimes saving the breeding season just in time.

Even so, Bald Eagle’s “divorce rate” is estimated to be only 5% to 15% – much lower than our divorce rate!

Bald eagles are part migrants, and they can stay near breeding areas year-round if conditions are right. Where bodies of water freeze, these eagles migrate south or to the coast for the winter.

Pairs of bald eagles don’t necessarily migrate and overwinter together, but birds that go their separate ways return and reunite at their nests to breed.

Vultures are said to be monogamous because they stick together during the breeding season, but that doesn’t mean they’re always loyal to each other.

Females occasionally mate with other males, allowing unsuspecting mates to assist in raising chicks that are not their own.

A pair of bald eagles perched on a log, Alaska

How do bald eagles attract mates?

Little is known about how bald eagles attract new mates. However, the birds are almost certainly looking for a series of clues about the health of their potential mates. As interest develops between a pair, these birds will engage in truly mesmerizing courtship behaviors to cement their bond!

Read on to learn more about bald eagle courtship displays.

courtship behavior

Bald eagle courtship is mesmerizing. These birds use acrobatic aerial displays to impress each other and strengthen their bond. Their displays often include vocalizations, although the calls of these great eagles are not far off. However, not all eagle courtships are dramatic and acrobatic. Many courtship behaviors are mild, including behaviors such as beak rubbing and nest building.

air show

The most spectacular aerial display of the Bald Eagles involves two members flying to great heights and grabbing each other’s feet. Their claws remained locked as the pair plummeted to the ground, before they let go and flew to safety at the last moment. Sometimes the bird even holds on for too long and ends up hitting the ground!

Bald Eagles also chase each other at high speeds and perform steep climbs and dives at breakneck speed for a rollercoaster ride. These shows aren’t just about romance. Bird watchers may also see some of these acrobatic maneuvers in aggressive encounters between enemies or in the learned behavior of young birds.

A pair of bald eagles soaring among the mountains

vocalize

Bald eagles often call to each other as a form of courtship, especially when they reunite at nests after migration. Females also send out courtship signals, indicating that they are ready to mate.

other courtship behavior

Bald eagles mate as a form of courtship, sometimes months after the breeding season is over. Other courtship behaviors may be more subtle, including simple behaviors such as roosting together, beak rubbing, grooming each other, and building and repairing nests together.

to form

It takes several years for bald eagles to grow their adult plumage and reach sexual maturity. They pair first and start breeding when they are four or five years old. These eagles may form pairs during the breeding season, when aggressiveness and breeding behavior are heightened. However, some birds are thought to form pair bonds during the non-breeding season.

Breeding pair of Bald Eagles perched on a rock

How many times do bald eagles mate each year?

Bald eagles mate several times a year, but they produce only one brood during the breeding season. The birds may try a second brood if there is a problem with the first brood and there is still enough time in the season. Second nesting attempts are more likely to be successful in temperate climates.

During the breeding season, bald eagles mate multiple times a day. The birds also mate outside of the breeding season, which may serve as pairing practice. Bald eagles may be vocal during, before and after mating. They do not mate in the air.

Like other birds, the male will hop onto the back of a perched female to mate. Mounting his buddies is something he has to be very careful with, of course, given the size of his razor-sharp claws!

A pair of bald eagles mating

What happens when a bald eagle mate dies?

If something happens to a bald eagle’s mate, they will choose a new breeding partner. Sometimes it may only take a few days for a bird to find a new partner, while in other cases it may take months.

Do bald eagles grieve the loss of a mate?

Bald eagles form strong pair bonds, so it’s easy to believe they will mourn the loss of a mate. In fact, we can’t yet tell if the bald eagle will mourn.