Bald Eagles are native to North America and their range extends from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States and into northern Mexico. They thrive near large bodies of open water, such as lakes, rivers, and coastal regions, which provide abundant food sources, and old growth forests for suitable nesting sites. Historically, they were abundant across most of North America, however, human activities led to significant declines due to habitat loss, pollution, and persecution. Conservation efforts have since facilitated a remarkable recovery, and they now nest in every continental U.S. state and Canadian province. In Canada, the majority of Bald Eagles are found along the British Columbia coast, with significant populations in the forests of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. They are also present in Newfoundland and Labrador, northern Quebec, and the Maritime provinces, and are particularly prevalent in Nova Scotia.

Carnivores, primarily feeding on fish such as salmon, trout, and catfish. They are opportunistic hunters preying on small mammals, waterfowl, and reptiles; as well as opportunistic scavengers of carrion, including dead fish, deer carcasses, and even roadkill. Their adaptability allows them to thrive in various environments where food sources are abundant. However, as apex predators at the top of the food chain, Bald Eagles are vulnerable to bioaccumulation of environmental toxins, such as lead poisoning from ingesting bullet fragments in scavenged carcasses or fish from stocked ponds being a significant concern in some regions.

Bald Eagles are monogamous and mate for life. Mating season starts in late winter or early spring, with most pair bonding and courtship activities happening February to March. Their courtship involves a high-flying duet where they perform synchronized gliding, mirroring each other's movements. Then they will lock talons and fall through the sky cartwheeling downwards until they let go just before reaching the ground. They do this to bond, build trust, and show off their flight skills. They build their nests near water since fish are their primary food source. Their nests are built of sticks, lined with grass, moss, feathers, and seaweed. They return to the same nest yearly and repair it together, with nests getting as large as 1.5 to 1.8 meters wide (4.9 to 5.9 feet), 0.6 to 1.2 meters (1.9 to 3.9 feet) deep, weighing 450 to 900 kg (992 to 1984 lbs). The female lays 1–3 eggs which the pair take turns incubating for 35 days. The eaglets are altricial when they hatch, completely dependent on their parents. The male hunts to feed the female and the eaglets, and both parents feed the young. The eaglets fledge at 10–12 weeks old but will rely on their parents for several more weeks as they learn to hunt. The juveniles will go through 4–5 years of mottled brown and white plumage before reaching full adulthood, after which they establish their own territories and begin the cycle again. In the wild, Bald Eagles typically live 20–30 years, and in captivity they can live up to 50 years.

Bald Eagles have several key adaptations that make them efficient predators and skilled survivors. Their broad wingspan and strong light-weight bones allows them to soar effortlessly on thermal updrafts, staying aloft for hours without flapping their wings, reaching altitudes of 3048 meters (10,000 feet), allowing them to conserve energy while searching for food. Their large eyes occupy over 50% of their skull giving them exceptional eyesight, about 4 to 5 times sharper than a human’s, enabling them to spot prey from up to 3.2 kilometers (1.9 miles) away. Their water-resistant feathers help keep them dry when diving for fish and they can dive into water to capture prey at speeds of up to 160 km/hr (100 mph). Their powerful 7 to 10 cm (2.7 to 3.9 inches) long talons can exert up to 6.9 MPI of pressure, allowing them to grip and carry heavy prey like fish and small mammals weighing up to 5 kg (11 lbs). Their sharp, hooked beak is designed for tearing flesh, making it easier to consume their food.

• In Mi'kmaw culture, Eagle feathers are sacred and used for ceremonies and prayers to carry intentions to the spirit world. They are commonly gifted to be worn with respect as a symbol of honour and leadership. The Eagle is one of the Seven Sacred Teachings representing Love. It is respected for being a messenger between people and the Creator and for symbolizing strength and vision.

• The heavy use of the pesticide DDT in the 1940s to 1970s, which weakened their eggshells, caused significant declines in Bald Eagle populations across North America until it was banned in the early 1970s, with their population rebounding over the next few decades. The Nova Scotian population was largely unaffected by DDT and thus breeding pairs were translocated for conservation purposes to repopulate areas that were most severely impacted.

• A 1984 survey in Nova Scotia found that nearly 80% of occupied bald eagle nests were located in Cape Breton.

• They are "kleptoparasites" meaning they steal food from other animals, primarily stealing fish from ospreys.

• Bald Eagles build the largest tree nests in the animal kingdom with a record holding nest in Florida reaching 3 meters (10 feet) wide, 6 meters (20 feet) tall and weighing more than 1800kg (2 tons).

• They don’t develop their characteristic white head and tail until they are 4 to 5 years old.