What is a bald eagle territory?

Bald eagle territories vary in size depending on habitat quality, prey abundance, and the number of nesting pairs in an area. Territories typically encompass suitable nesting, roosting, foraging, and perching sites. The size of a breeding territory might cover 19,500 or 76,000 acres or more, although an eagle generally only forages within much smaller core areas ranging between only 495 and up to 1,980 acres surrounding the nest. During the non-breeding season, territories may expand in the case of young, non-breeding eagles. Nesting pairs often return to the same territory and nest sites every year. They generally establish dominance over their chosen area and protect it year-round against competitors seeking suitable land on which to reproduce.