They 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.

They are carnivorous, primarily feeding on fish such as salmon, trout, and catfish. They are opportunistic hunters preying on small mammals and waterfowl 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.

They 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 before making contact with 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 1.5–1.8 m wide, 0.6–1.2 m deep, weighing 450–900 kg. 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 m, allowing them to conserve energy while searching for food. Their large eyes occupy over 50% of their skull giving them exceptional eyesight, about 4–5 times sharper than a human’s, enabling them to spot prey from up to 3.2 km 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/hour. Their powerful 7–10 cm long talons can exert up to 6.9 MPa of pressure, allowing them to grip and carry heavy prey like fish and small mammals weighing up to 4–5 kg. Their sharp, hooked beak is designed for tearing flesh, making it easier to consume their food. These adaptations make the Bald Eagle one of North America’s most successful birds of prey.