2 Types of Eagles Found in Mississippi! (ID Guide)

What types of eagles can you find in Mississippi?

common types of eagles in mississippi

Whenever they appear, I make sure to stop and watch these incredible birds of prey. I’m always amazed at their beauty, large size, and astonishing ability to soar at extreme heights! And I’m not alone, as eagles have a special place in many people’s hearts and minds. These majestic birds symbolize many things, such as freedom, courage, honesty, inspiration, victory, and pride.

Unlike other raptors, there are not many eagle species that reside in Mississippi. In fact, there are only a few species that can be observed on the entire continent.

Below are the TWO eagles that live in Mississippi!

Make sure to pay attention to the range maps to see which eagles live near you! For each species, I have included a few photographs, along with their most common sounds, to help you identify any birds you are lucky enough to observe.


#1. Bald Eagle

  • Haliaeetus leucocephalus

common eagles in mississippi

The Bald Eagle is one of the most recognizable birds in the world!

But did you know that the “Bald” portion of their name has nothing to do with not having feathers on their head? As you can clearly see, these eagles have white feathers covering their entire face with no bald spots anywhere. Their name actually stems from an Old English word “piebald,” which means “white patch” and refers to their bright white heads.

commons eagles in mississippi

While almost everyone knows what a full-grown Bald Eagle looks like, trying to correctly identify juvenile birds is tricky. These eagles don’t get their characteristic white head and dark brown body until they are FIVE YEARS OLD. Until then, these birds have all sorts of different plumages and streaky browns and whites on their bodies. Even their beak changes color! It takes A LOT of practice and experience to identify young Bald Eagles properly!

Bald Eagles are found across Mississippi!

After almost going extinct in the mid 20th century due to DDT poisoning, these raptors are a true success story. They are most commonly seen around bodies of water.

Bald Eagle Range Map

The reason that Bald Eagles are found around water is that they mostly eat fish! Look for them around marshes, lakes, coasts, and rivers. The BEST areas are forests near large bodies of water that provide good fishing AND tall trees for nesting sites.

Did you know that Bald Eagles build the largest nests in the world?

Their nests start “small,” but eagles add new layers each year. The biggest one EVER found was 10 feet wide (3 meters) and 20 feet tall (6 meters) and weighed in at 3 tons! Bald Eagles would keep adding to their nests each year, but what happens is that the structures get so heavy they eventually fall out of the tree, and the birds have to start over.

YouTube video

Press PLAY above to hear a Bald Eagle!

The Bald Eagle probably doesn’t sound like what you think. If you imagine an intimidating eagle call, then you would be wrong. I think they sound more like a gull, with trills and little whistles. In fact, movie directors are so unimpressed with the sounds a Bald Eagle makes, it’s common for them to use the call of a Red-tailed Hawk instead for dramatic effect!

With unmatched eyesight, it is not at all surprising that Bald Eagles hunt from as high as 10,000 feet (3 km) in the air. Their vision is about eight times better than humans. More importantly, these eagles can see into the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum. This adaptation is helpful because it allows them to see past the reflections on the water’s surface and find fish that would otherwise be invisible in the glare.

Length: 28-40 inches / 70-102 cm

Weight: 6.5-15 lbs / 3-7 kg

Wingspan: 71-91 inches / 1.8-2.3 meters


#2. Golden Eagle

  • Aquila chrysaetos

species of eagles in mississippi

Golden Eagles are incredibly fast and agile, which makes them expert hunters. Where Bald Eagles mostly eat fish, these eagles almost always eat mammals. Their favorite prey includes rabbits, hares, ground squirrels, marmots, and prairie dogs. But these raptors have been known to hunt and kill animals as large as small deer, seals, mountain goats, coyotes, and badgers!

They have even been known to snatch a bear cub for dinner. Talk about bravery (or stupidity?)! 🙂

Golden Eagles are dark brown with gold feathers on the backs of their necks, which is how they got their name. Juvenile birds have white patches on their wings and tails. Immature Bald Eagles and adult Golden Eagles look similar and can be easily confused.

golden eagle vs bald eagle juvenile - common eagles in mississippi

The distinguishing feature between these two birds is that the Bald Eagle doesn’t mind showing a little leg, whereas the Golden Eagle has feathers all the way down to the top of their feet.

These powerful raptors typically mate for life. To impress a female, male birds will pick up a stick or a rock and fly up high, only to drop it. Then the eagle will enter a dive to catch the object again before it hits the ground! Once a pair is together, it’s common for them to hunt cooperatively, where one individual ambushes the prey and drives it towards the second bird to make the kill.

Golden Eagles are known to like cliffs to build their nests on, but also have no problem using trees, observation towers, or nesting platforms. These raptors have even been known to nest on the ground! The most important feature these birds look for when it comes to building a nest is it needs to have a good view of its surroundings.

Golden Eagle Range Map

golden eagle range map

Golden Eagles are not commonly seen in Mississippi!

These birds prefer vast open areas such as landscapes that include cliffs, mountains, or hills. You can also spot these birds in grasslands, farmlands, shrublands, arctic tundra, and coniferous woodlands.

YouTube video

 

These eagles are not extremely noisy, and their calls sound like whistles that are weak and high. Just like Bald Eagles, for such a powerful raptor, you would think Golden Eagles would have a much more intimidating sound!

Length: 26-40 inches / 66-100 cm

Weight: 6.5-16 lbs / 3-7 kg

Wingspan: 71-91 inches / 1.8-2.3 meters


Do you need help identifying eagles?

Here are a few books and resources you can purchase that will assist! (Links below take you to Amazon)


Which of these eagles have you seen before in Mississippi?

Leave a comment below!


To learn more about other raptors near you, check out these guides!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

14 Comments

  1. I’ve seen a bald eagle several times recently (August 2023) over Greenwood. There’s a nest at a slough about 8-10 miles Nortthwest of Greenwood. I also saw one along Highway 7 between Greenwood and Grenada a few years ago.

  2. Last year our neighbor saw a pair of Bald eagles by the pond in his pasture in Mount Olive, MS. Have not heard if they returned this year.

  3. I saw 2 bald eagles on our property in Pelahatchie, Mississippi. We live on Leesburg road across from Lake Ruby.

  4. Bald eagle adult on hwy 84 between Collins and Laurel white head and white tail feathers eating a road kill armadillo I am positive it was a bald eagle

  5. I have been seeing Golden Eagles every day outside my back yard and while driving around Central MS (Pearl, Flowood, Brandon areas). Sometimes single and in flocks up to 5.

  6. Saw a mature Bald Eagle this morning (10-19-22) on a small creek in hardwood timber area near Hwy. 80 west of Morton (Scott County).

  7. This is second May-June I’ve seen Golden Eagles in my back pasture in Jones County, Mississippi. Last year there were 3 together. Today I saw just one. Had a excellent view threw binoculars. The Bald Eagles are usually seen here in the winter months.

  8. Just send a beautiful bald eagle on the side of the road snacking on a small hog or maybe what was left of a adolescent deer. It was spotted just before sun down at about 5:45 pm. 03/01/2022 Hattiesburg/ So Forrest Co. Mississippi. Ollie Williams Rd. Right before the US Hwy 49 intersection. 2nd one I have ever seen in the wild, both were in Mississippi. The 1st one was just before the New Year in Central Mississippi in the city of Ridgeland, MS. Believe or not in the middle of town flying low during rush hour. It was mine and my 3yr old son’s first time catching a glimpse. That was a cool experience given having to wait 33yrs to share our first encounter together.

  9. Bald eagle seen 12/28/31 two blocks from the Little Biloxi River! The bird flew into the neighborhood and picked up a road kill armadillo in front of me. I was watching a group of vultures flying up into a tree and in swoops the eagle…. Amazing!!!!