 Breeding evidence |
 Relative abundance |
 Probability of observation |
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Click on plot to view table of mean abundance
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Number of squares
Long-term BBS trends
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8.25 (4.73 - 11.5)|
Mean abundance (number of birds detected per 5 min. point count) and percentage of squares occupied by region Bird Conservation Regions [abund. plot]
[%squares plot]
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Atlas Results
Atlas results coming soon
Excerpts Adapted from the Birds of Saskatchewan:
The imposing Bald Eagle is a common sight in a breeding range that extends across the boreal forest region of Canada and Alaska, and as it continues to resettle most of its former domain in the continental US and extreme northwestern Mexico. Most Saskatchewan birds winter in the Missouri River states (Montana, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri), also in Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado, and some as far south as Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
Breeding occurs on boreal forest lakes rich in fish with nearby trees for roosting and nesting. Migrants are often seen perched near or flying over southern lakes or rivers. During the winter 2 distinct habitats predominate: open water below dams and rapids where the birds feed on fish or waterfowl, or the open plains where they feed on carrion.
In 1974, an aerial census estimated the provincial population of Bald Eagles at 6900 adults with 4700 immatures (age 1-4 years) and 2500 nestlings in 3900 breeding areas (Leighton et al. 1979). Although nesting Bald Eagles had been rumoured in southern Saskatchewan before 1900, only recently have nests been confirmed: in 1987 at Coldwell Park Recreation Site on the South Saskatchewan River (Stan Shadick); since 2005 on a river island near Estuary (first reported in Zazelenchuk 2005); and at Cutarm Creek, a tributary of the Qu'Appelle, at least in 2007, but also 7 years earlier (Trevor Herriot).
Original text by Jon M. Gerrard and Gary Bortolotti. Text adapted by Daniel J. Sawatzky
Read more about the Bald Eagle in the Birds of Saskatchewan here.
Recommended citation: Latremouille, L. M. 2025. Bald Eagle in Latremouille, L. M., S. L. Van Wilgenburg, C. B. Jardine, D. Lepage, A. R. Couturier, D. Evans, D. Iles, and K. L. Drake (eds.). 2025. The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Saskatchewan, 2017-2021. Birds Canada. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan https://sk.birdatlas.ca/accounts/speciesaccount.jsp?sp=BAEA&lang=en [14 Nov 2025]
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