tomad Loc: North Carolina

Around lakes in eastern North Carolina we have both scenarios. A few eagles who nest there stay all year round but in December to February there are many more that come just for the winter.

williejoha

This time of year the eagle would stay in the area. The bird is probably part of a nesting pair. Eagles return to same nest year after year. Their loyalty is not to their mate but to the nest. Let’s say the female arrives first in the spring, she will only wait a few day’s for her mate. If he does not show up in time she will look for a new mate. My son is at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha Minnesota, a worthwhile place to visit and learn about eagles when one happens to be in the area.
WJH

Ridgerunner Loc: Dayton, Ohio

They are feeding their young eaglets right now so this should be a good time.

Rae Zimmerman Loc: Pine Island, FL

Contact your local Audobon Society for specific habits of eagles in your area and altitude.

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

Just want to thank everyone for all the great info. Lots to learn about birding for sure.

Karl's Bird Photography Loc: Oregon

Also, the female of most raptors is larger... hard to tell unless you see them together. In addition to eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology also has an excellent resource site at www.birdsoftheworld.org that is a subscription. Here is an overview of Bald Eagle migration:

Complex pattern of migration dependent on age of the individual (immature or adult), location of breeding site (north vs. south, interior vs. coastal), severity of climate at breeding site (especially during winter but also possibly during summer), and year-round food availability. Most immatures migrate and may move nomadically, presumably because they are not tied to defense of a nest site. Difficult to distinguish between true migration (seasonal movements between breeding and wintering grounds) in immatures and dispersal. Adult birds, in contrast, migrate as needed when food becomes unavailable. Bald Eagles generally migrate alone but occasionally join other migrants on the wing, but not in kettles or flocks. Concentrations of migrants can occur at communal feeding and roost sites during migration.

Greenhi

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