He may only have one wing, but he’s 100% awesome.
A male bald eagle named Mr. America is now in his permanent habitat at the Detroit Zoo after recovering from an injury that prevented him from being released back into the wild.
One of the bird’s wings was severely damaged, presumably after he flew into a power line, and had to be amputated.
Named Mr. America by the Vincennes, Ind., licensed rehabber who cared for him, the eagle arrived at the Detroit Zoo in mid-November and spent several weeks in quarantine at the Ruth Roby Glancy Animal Health Complex.
There’s already a bald eagle at the zoo. His name is Flash and he’s a rescue, too. He’s from Alaska’s Kodiak Island.
“We’re happy to offer sanctuary to another rescued, non-releasable eagle and provide him expert care and a great place to live,” said Scott Carter, chief life sciences officer for the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS).
According to the Detroit Zoo, Mr. America is estimated to be between 5 and 6 years old and, at just 6 pounds, is considered small for his species.
Mature eagles typically weigh 10 to 15 pounds and have a wingspan of 6 to 8 feet.
The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) earns its name from the Old English word “balde,” meaning white, referencing the distinctive white feathers covering its head and tail.