Bald eagle

Scientific name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Possibly one of the most famous birds in the world, the bald eagle is known across the globe as the national bird of the United States. Despite its fame, this US native was listed in the Endangered Species Act in 1978 in all states except Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, and Alaska.

The decline of the bald eagle is attributed to illegal hunting, habitat destruction, and unintentional poisonings, most commonly from the pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). When DDT was introduced after World War II, its widespread use led to the contamination of bald eagle food sources as it leached into bodies of water and was ingested by fish. Many eagles were poisoned after eating contaminated fish, leading to substantial population declines.

Since being listed in the Endangered Species Act, the bald eagle has significantly recovered thanks to several efforts, including passing the Bald Eagle Protection Act, which prohibits hunting, and the nationwide ban on DDT.

Today, the IUCN classifies the bird as least concern—a remarkable turnaround for this iconic species.