What Is a Group of Eagles Called?

Eagles are generally large predatorial birds known for diving from the sky to attack their prey. These animals are known for having exceptional eyesight as well as the ability to fly and dive at amazing speeds. While they’re not the most social animals, they do sometimes group up. So, if you were to see a group of harpy eagles together, you might call them a flock. Yet, that’s too general. So, what is a group of eagles called when we’re trying to be specific? We’ll show you this and more.  

What Are Groups of Eagles Called?

A group of eagles is typically called a convocation, but it can also be called a soar, aerie, or even a spread. Eagles are very popular and widespread birds. As a result, they have several names that apply to a group of them. While it’s not necessarily incorrect to refer to a group of bald eagles as a flock like humans do with other birds, it’s not completely accurate.

A full list of the terms applied to a group of eagles is as follows:

• Convocation
• Soar
• Aerie
• Spread
• Flock

Now, you’ll have a variety of ways to answer if someone asks what a group of eagles is called. Eagles are referred to by a variety of collective nouns. Let’s take a look at the reasons that these names are applied to these birds.  

How Did Eagles Get Their Group Names?

Each of the collective nouns for eagles has a specific meaning. For example, the word ‘convocation’ means a large and formal gathering of people. While the formality may throw people off, the term is very applicable to eagles.

Eagles are not the most social animals, but dozens of them can roost in a single area at a time. This meeting is not for them to socialize, pamper one another, or mate. Instead, these large gatherings occur for specific reasons other than emotional attachment. These birds come together as individuals or small family groups, often to feed or for group protection.

Soar is another collective term used to describe a group of eagles. That term implies flying and rising into the area. Eagles do not spend much time together with others outside of their small families. Yet, they can migrate in groups when cold weather arrives. Thus, a soar is a very apt term when eagles, specifically bald eagles, migrate in the winter.

The term aerie comes from a work that literally means the nest of a bird of prey. Using this name to describe a group of eagles probably refers to a small family of eagles in a nest. Bald eagles maintain the same monogamous partnership from season to season. They’ll meet, mate, and lay eggs. Together, the male and female will take turns watching over the eggs and hunting. When the eaglets are hatched, it will appear that a small group, or aerie, will live around a certain nest.    

Do Eagles Live Together in Convocations?

No, eagles do not typically live together in large social groups. Most often, eagles are solitary creatures during much of the year. The exceptions are the breeding season and the winter migration period for some species.

However, it’s possible to find eagles together at other times of the year. Sometimes, bald eagles will roost in the same area if it’s large enough or if the weather is bad enough. These communal roosts are not well-understood, but they’ve been documented in places like Alaska.  

Seeing a large group of eagles together is not very common.

What Are Baby Eagles Called?

Baby eagles are called eaglets. These small birds are rather helpless for the first several weeks of their lives. Bald eagles fledge after about 10 to 14 weeks and become independent weeks after their first flights. These baby eagles do not look like their mature counterparts for several years.

Juvenile eagles will take to the skies and cover an extensive range after leaving their home nest. However, they will return to a nearby area in which they were born when it comes time for them to mate.

How Eagles Socialize

For the most part, eagles are solitary creatures. However, they can group up and socialize in several conditions. Some of the reasons that eagles socialize with each other include mating, feeding, migration, and safety.

Mating

Bald eagles are monogamous birds that are believed to mate for life. When breeding season arrives, bald eagles will go to their mates and stay with them until their eggs are hatched.

Feeding

Sometimes, eagles will group up in an area where food is especially abundant. For example, convocations of eagles appear during the salmon run in the Pacific Northwest. The eagles will start grabbing fish out of the water and eating them nearby.

These birds must be vigilant, or another eagle may try to steal their prized food. Eagles are not necessarily cooperating during these salmon runs. They just want to have a higher chance of obtaining food by hunting or stealing.  

Migration

Eagles also socialize during migration. They will form large groups and travel to warmer places with more abundant food during the winter. Group migrations provide many benefits to the eagles. For example, a group of eagles can fly together for several days and then stay together for warmth at night.

Another benefit they obtain is the chance to spot potential predators and ward them off together rather than fighting them alone. If a predator brave enough to attack the group does appear, the high number of birds means there is less of a chance that a single bird in the group will be targeted. These benefits of socializing bring eagles together.

A group of eagles is called many things, but the most specific words are convocation, soar, and aerie. Although bald eagles do not stay in groups with each other very often, they can be spotted together in certain situations like migration, feeding, or during harsh weather.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © FloridaStock/Shutterstock.com