by The bald eagle, America’s national symbol since 1782, has made a remarkable comeback from near extinction in the mid-20th century. Once targeted by hunters and nearly wiped out due to pesticide use like DDT, the bald eagle now thrives across the continental U.S. thanks to conservation efforts.
Last years, there are an estimated 316,700 bald eagles across the lower 48 states. This article explores how each U.S. state contributes to the bald eagle’s resurgence and where populations are strongest.
What You Should Know
- Bald eagles live in nearly every U.S. state except Hawaii.
- Their diet primarily includes fish, but they also hunt small mammals and birds.
- Alaska has the highest bald eagle population with 30,000 breeding pairs.
- Hawaii is the only state without a resident bald eagle population.
- Populations are counted as breeding pairs unless otherwise noted.
States with the Highest Bald Eagle Populations
- Alaska: 30,000 pairs
- Minnesota: 9,800 pairs
- Wisconsin: 1,500 pairs
- Florida: 1,500 pairs
- Maryland: 1,400 pairs
- Virginia: 1,100 pairs
- Michigan: 900 pairs
- Washington: 900 pairs
- Ohio: 910 pairs
- Maine: 800 pairs
- Montana: 700 pairs
States with Notable Populations and Growth
- California: 400 pairs
- Indiana: 350 pairs
- Louisiana: 350 pairs
- Iowa: 400 pairs
- Oregon: 570 pairs
- Oklahoma: 500 pairs
- Missouri: 500 pairs
- South Carolina: 440 pairs
- New York: 425 pairs
- Colorado: 200 pairs
States with Small but Stable Populations
- Arizona: 65 pairs
- Connecticut: 82 pairs
- Delaware: 77 pairs
- Massachusetts: 76 pairs
- Rhode Island: 3 pairs
- Vermont: 68 pairs
- Utah: 10 pairs
- New Mexico: 2 pairs
Winter Visitors Only
- Nevada: About 150 bald eagles visit each winter.
- Illinois: Over 3,000 eagles migrate here in winter, despite only 40 breeding pairs.
- Texas: Though it has 160 resident pairs, many more eagles winter in the state.
States with Strong Recoveries
- Kentucky: 187 pairs
- Georgia: 198 pairs
- North Carolina: 192 pairs
- West Virginia: 300 pairs
- Nebraska: 202 pairs
- Kansas: 137 pairs
- Arkansas: 80 pairs
States Where Bald Eagles Are Still Scarce
- Hawaii: 0 (no resident or breeding pairs due to habitat and climate)
- New Mexico: 2 pairs (recovering slowly)
- Rhode Island: 3 pairs (increasing presence)
Why Bald Eagle Populations Matter
- A high number of breeding pairs is a strong indicator of environmental health.
- The bald eagle’s recovery is a conservation success story that highlights the impact of legal protections and habitat preservation.
- State-level population data can help inform future conservation policies and wildlife planning.
