Bald Eagles in Alabama: Where to See Them and How to Identify Them

Most sightings cluster around the Tennessee River Valley in the north and the Gulf Coast in the south. Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge near Decatur hosts one of the largest wintering populations in the Southeast, often more than 100 birds at the peak of the season. Lake Guntersville, Wheeler Lake, Pickwick Lake, and the Mobile-Tensaw Delta also offer reliable viewing. Inland, large reservoirs such as Lewis Smith Lake and Weiss Lake hold scattered pairs. Look for eagles perched in tall trees along shorelines or soaring over open water, and scan the edges of dams and tailwaters where fish concentrate in cold months. For a complete list of Alabama's top birding locations, check the Alabama wildlife hub.

Winter, roughly December through February, gives the highest concentrations as northern eagles migrate south and gather around open water and reservoirs. Early morning and late afternoon are the prime hours, when eagles actively hunt and move between roosts and feeding areas. On cold, clear mornings after a freeze, eagles often perch in the open to warm up, which makes them easier to spot. Summer resident pairs are harder to find but can be seen near nest sites, especially during early morning feeding runs when adults carry fish back to the nest.

Adult bald eagles have a pure white head and tail that contrast with a dark brown body and a heavy yellow beak. In flight, they hold their broad wings flat, not in the shallow V shape of a turkey vulture, and they flap with slow, deep beats. Golden eagles, which are rare winter visitors in Alabama, have smaller heads, fully feathered legs, and golden feathers across the back of the neck. Ospreys are smaller, with white underparts and a dark mask through the eye, and they hover before diving. Juvenile bald eagles are the most confusing, since they lack the white head and tail until about four to five years old, so look for massive size, blotchy white in the wings and belly, and that heavy beak. For more on eagle identification, visit the bald eagle animal page.

See our state animal guide for the next step.

Bald eagles build enormous stick nests, often five to six feet across, in tall pines or cypress trees near water. Pairs reuse and add to the same nest year after year, so the structures grow into some of the largest of any North American bird. Active nests are often visible from boat ramps or overlooks on the Tennessee River and around the larger reservoirs. Many nests are tracked by conservation groups and state biologists; you can sometimes spot one by scanning for a large platform wedged into the crotch of a tall tree near a shoreline. Keep a respectful distance to avoid flushing nesting pairs, since repeated disturbance can cause adults to abandon eggs or young.

Yes. Bald eagles are protected under federal law even though they are no longer listed as endangered. The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act makes it illegal to kill, harm, or disturb eagles, or to possess their feathers, eggs, or nests without a permit. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act adds another layer of protection for the birds and their parts. In Alabama, eagles are also covered by state wildlife law. In practice this means you should not approach active nests, and federal guidance recommends staying at least 330 feet away so you do not cause adults to flush. Collecting a feather you find on the ground is also prohibited, since the law covers possession regardless of how the feather was obtained. Reporting injured or dead eagles to the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries helps biologists track threats like lead poisoning and vehicle strikes.