At One Place

How long does a bald eagle last?

Typical lifespan
15–38 yr

The national bird of the United States, recovered from about 400 nesting pairs in 1963 to over 70,000 today.

How that compares

Bald eagle against things of a similar time.

Bald eagle 15–38 yr
Giant panda 15–30 yr
American bison 15–25 yr
Spotted hyena 12–25 yr
Cow 15–25 yr
Red kangaroo 12–25 yr
American black bear 18–30 yr
Plains zebra 12–25 yr

What that means over time

Assuming the typical lifespan above and immediate replacement.
Period How many you would buy
Per year 0.05 replacements
Over 10 years 1 of them
Over a 30-year mortgage 1.5 of them

Lifespans are medians under ordinary use, not guarantees. Maintenance, how hard it is used, and build quality move individual examples a long way in both directions — which is why the range above is as wide as it is.

More about a bald eagle

Common questions

How long does a bald eagle last?
A bald eagle lasts 15–38 yr.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution

How these figures are compiled and checked