Bald eagles have good hearing, but it is not as acute as some other bird species in terms of high-frequency sensitivity. Studies have shown that bald eagles have a hearing range of at least four octaves, with a most sensitive frequency of 2 kHz, and a high-frequency limit of approximately 5.7 kHz.

Bald Eagles’ Hearing Range and Sensitivity

Bald eagles can hear a wide range of sounds, including those in the lower and mid-frequency ranges, which are important for their survival and communication. However, they may be less reliant on hearing than some other bird species, as they are more focused on using their vision to detect and respond to their environment.

Hearing Range

• Bald eagles have a hearing range of at least four octaves.
• Their most sensitive frequency is 2 kHz.
• Their high-frequency limit is approximately 5.7 kHz.

Hearing Sensitivity

• Bald eagles have somewhat less acute high-frequency hearing sensitivity than some other bird species.
• They may be more reliant on vision for detecting and responding to sounds in their environment.

Importance of Hearing for Bald Eagles

Image source: Flickr

Despite their slightly less acute high-frequency hearing, bald eagles still rely on their hearing for important aspects of their survival and social interactions.

Communication

• Bald eagles use their hearing to communicate with each other, especially during mating, egg incubating, and when feeling threatened by other eagles entering their territory.

Survival

• Bald eagles use both their hearing and vision to detect and respond to their environment, but they may be more focused on using their vision for this purpose.

Comparison to Other Bird Species

While bald eagles have good hearing, they may not be as reliant on it as some other bird species.

Hearing Sensitivity Comparison

• Studies have found that bald eagles have somewhat less acute high-frequency hearing sensitivity than some other bird species.
• This suggests that bald eagles may be more focused on using their vision for detecting and responding to their environment.

Reliance on Hearing

• Bald eagles rely on both hearing and vision for their survival, but they may be less reliant on hearing than some other bird species.

Conclusion

In summary, bald eagles have good hearing, but it is not as acute as some other bird species in terms of high-frequency sensitivity. They rely on both hearing and vision for their survival, but they may be more focused on using their vision for detecting and responding to their environment. Despite this, bald eagles still use their hearing for important aspects of their survival and social interactions, such as communication with other eagles.

References:
– Auditory performance in bald eagles and red-tailed hawks: a comparative study of hearing in diurnal raptors. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens. 2019 Sep 13;205(9):929-942. doi: 10.1007/s00359-019-01367-9. PMID: 31520117.
– Auditory function in bald eagles and red-tailed hawks – SpringerLink. Link.springer.com.
– Eagle Hearing/Ears – The Center for Conservation Biology. Ccbirds.org.
– Eagle Ear: an Eye on How Raptors Hear – College of Liberal Arts. Cla.umn.edu.