The bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus, our national bird,is the only eagle unique to North America. The bald eagle's scientific name signifies a sea halo eagle (aeetos) with a white (leukos) head. At one time, the word bald meant white, not hairless. Bald eagles are found throughout most of North America, from Alaska and Canada to northern Mexico. About half of the world's 70,000 bald eagles live in Alaska. Combined with British Columbia's population of about 20,000, the northwest coast of North America is by far their greatest stronghold for bald eagles. They flourish here in part because of the salmon. Dead or dying fish are an important food source for all bald eagles.
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