We know of this majestic creature as the American Bald Eagle, but after reading about eagles  I couldn’t help but use the earlier and much more accurately descriptive common form of the bird’s name, a White-headed Sea Eagle.

Haliaeetus leucocephalus Is the eagle’s scientific genus and species name. Haliaeetus comes from Ancient Greek and means sea, or hali and eagle, or aetos.

Leuccocephalus is also from Ancient Greek; white, or leukos and head, or cephalus.

There are four species of Sea Eagles worldwide and they are the American Bald Eagle, Steller’s Sea Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, and Palla’s Fish Eagle.

It takes about 5 years for a Bald Eagle to become a breeding adult. Based on its head and tail feather patterning that you can see clearly in the video, I think this eagle is about 3.5 to 4 years old.

John Audubon’s rendering of the Bald Eagle, titled White-headed Eagle, 1828 –  Plate No. XXXI