Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region: Species Accounts

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Abundance: Uncommon to very uncommon at all seasons throughout most of the Region, but fairly common at Dale Hollow Lake during most winters.

Status: Permanent Resident; has nested at various sites around the Region, including Barren River Reservoir, Dale Hollow Lake, Cordell Hull Lake, and Center Hill Lake.

Regional High Count: 92 (January 1993; Dale Hollow Lake, Kentucky and Tennessee; m. ob.); note: not a one-county count.

Breeding: Confirmed (Recent).  

Habitat: Large, tree-lined bodies of water, especially those supporting a large population of American Coots during winter.

YardWatch Results 2003 and 2004: no registrations (of 125 possible) during 2003 and 2 registrations (of 206 possible) during 2004, indicating that the Bald Eagle is a rare species in yards and neighborhoods, few of which were surveyed at sites with nearby eagle populations.

Foray Results: Abundance and distribution based on UCR Foray data are mapped as follows:

• Clinton County Foray--12-14 June 2009--no data
• Jackson County Foray--29 May-1 June 2009
• Pickett County Foray--22-25 May 2009--no data
• DeKalb County Foray--23-26 May 2008
• White County Foray--25-28 May 2007--no data

Remarks: Preys on many species of waterbirds during winter, especially American Coot and injured ducks; observed harrying, capturing, killing, but not carrying off and consuming a Common Loon at Dale Hollow Lake during early 2000s (G. Nivens, pers. com.).

    Extirpated from the Region as a breeding species as a result of DDT poisoning by the 1960s, Bald Eagles resumed breeding in the Region by the mid- to late 1980s.

    Mid-winter surveys of Bald Eagles have been conducted during early January at several Regional lakes in Kentucky since the early 1980s and at several Regional lakes in Tennessee since the late 1970s; many data from these surveys may be viewed via the following links:

Counties with Observations (boldfaced) and Confirmed Breeding:

To see a map (Figure 1) displaying the data in the table above, click on the boldfaced word in this sentence.

Literature Cited