What Is the Life Cycle of an Eagle?
Eagles are hatched from eggs and are fed in the nest by their parents. When they are old enough to fly, they leave the nest and feed themselves. When eagles reach maturity, they mate and lay eggs, beginning a new life cycle.
In the wild, the typical lifespan of a bald eagle is up to 28 years, and the lifespan of a golden eagle is approximately 30 years. Both species are typically monogamous and have one mate for life. After mating in the spring, eagles lay one to four eggs.
Bald eagles incubate their eggs for approximately 35 days while golden eagle eggs incubate for 40 to 45 days. Both parent eagles participate in caring for the eggs and feeding and protecting the chicks when they hatch.
Eagle chicks fledge and are able to fly at approximately 12 weeks old. The parent eagles leave the young within three to eight days after they fledge and the young eagles leave the nest area approximately four to six days later, according to Hancock Wildlife Foundation. Most eagles find a mate and begin breeding when they are five years old.
Depending on the climate, some eagles migrate south for the winter where food is more plentiful. Eagles are carnivorous and eat fish and other small game.
