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Although the bald eagle is the national symbol of the United States, its range extends across nearly all of North America. It is a large, unmistakable bird of prey with a wingspan reaching up to 2.5 meters. Bald eagles are monogamous, typically forming lifelong pairs, but when food is abundant, they may gather in larger groups, especially around salmon migration routes. They build large nests, usually in tall trees or on cliff faces, and can lay up to three eggs; however, typically, only one chick survives. Their primary diet consists of fish, though they also hunt other vertebrates, crustaceans, and scavenge on carrion. Equipped with long, sharp talons, bald eagles are well-adapted for gripping the slippery skin of aquatic prey.