Why is a bald eagle classified as a animalia?

The bald eagle belongs to the order Falconiformes because it has the following features:

- specialized feet with thick protective scales, strong toes and curved talons

- 3 toes facing forward and 1 facing back

- large eyes

- stout, sharply curved beaks

- carnivorous diet

These features are shared by almost all members of the order Falconiformes. They are known as 'Birds of Prey'.

It has been proposed that eagles, including the Bald Eagle, should be placed in a different order - Accipitriformes - which would also include hawks, vultures and many others. This was proposed based on recent DNA studies which showed a difference between some Falconiformes. However, this new order has not yet been widely accepted.