águila calva
/aɡila kalba/from spelling rulesfeminine
The English phrase "bald eagle" is translated into Spanish as águila calva. Wiktionary also lists pigargo cabeciblanco and pigargo americano.
Meaning: species of eagle native to North America (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| águila calva | /aɡila kalba/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| pigargo cabeciblanco | /piɡaɾɡo kabeθiblanko/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /piɡaɾɡo kabesiblanko/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| pigargo americano | /piɡaɾɡo ameɾikano/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
This term refers to the species of eagle native to North America.
What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase águila calva, the word calva literally means "bald".
Which one should you use?
Águila calva is the most common way to refer to the species, whereas pigargo cabeciblanco is a more precise ornithological term.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of águila calva is águilas calvas. Even though águila is a feminine noun, you use the masculine article el in the singular to avoid the phonetic clash with the "a" sound.
Did you know?
- The Spanish word águila originates from the Latin 'aquila', which was the symbol of the Roman legions.
- In Spanish, the word calva doesn't just describe the bird but is the common term for a human who is completely bald.
- The word pigargo specifically refers to sea eagles, meaning a 'bald eagle' is categorized as a sea eagle in Spanish ornithology.
Examples in context
- El águila calva es un símbolo icónico de los Estados Unidos.The bald eagle is an iconic symbol of the United States.
- Observamos el majestuoso vuelo del águila de cabeza blanca.We observed the majestic flight of the bald eagle.
- Esa águila calva vuela muy alto.That bald eagle flies very high.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are visiting a nature park.
- DanielElena, ¿viste esa águila calva?Elena, did you see that bald eagle?
- ElenaSí, es muy impresionante.Yes, it is very impressive.
- DanielNunca había visto una águila calva tan cerca.I had never seen a bald eagle so close.
- ElenaYo tampoco, Daniel.Neither had I, Daniel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bald eagle” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
