How Do Bald Eagles Reproduce?
Bald eagles reproduce using sexual reproduction once they have reached the age of sexual maturity, typically around the age of four or five. Unlike many animals, bald eagles mate for life unless one of the birds dies, according to BaldEagleInfo.com.
Once a bald eagle reaches sexual maturity, it begins to search for a mate. When two birds become mates, they both construct and protect the nest. An eagle nest, or aerie, can come in a variety of shapes based on its location, including cylindrical, conical, disc-shaped and bowl-shaped nests. These nests are often built along rivers or coasts in high places, such as trees or cliffs.
Once the aerie is constructed, the bald eagles mate. During mating season, eagles are often seen whirling through the air with their talons locked together. Experts are unsure if this is a courtship ritual or a ritualized battle between a territorial eagle and an intruder. It is often mistaken for bald eagle reproduction, but it is not.
Bald eagle reproduction takes place on a branch near the nest or on the ground. Bald eagles can live for up to 30 years, so it is unnecessary for them to reproduce constantly.
The female lays one to three eggs five to 10 days after copulation. These eggs are laid on different days, not all at once. From there, the eggs have a 35-day incubation period, where responsibility is shared between the male and the female. The eggs then hatch in the order that they were laid.
