Bald Eagles Are Huge But Wait Till You See Their Nests

Bald eagles, the national bird of the United States, are known for their striking appearance and impressive size. And a huge bird needs a huge nest.    

Model of an average-sized – 6 feet wide and 3 feet deep – bald eagle nest on display at Hueston Woods State Park, Ohio. Park ranger for scale. Image credit: Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Bald eagle nests, also known as aeries, can be enormous. They are built with sticks, branches, and other materials found in the birds’ natural environment, and can weigh as much as 2000 pounds (900 kg). The average bald eagle nest is about 4 to 6 feet (120 to 180 cm) wide and 2 to 4 feet (60 to 120 cm) deep, but some nests can be much larger.

The largest known bald eagle nest on record was found in St. Petersburg, Florida, and measured 9.5 feet (290 cm) wide and 20 feet (610 cm) deep.