Contrary to some stories you may have heard, eagles do not mate in the air. There have been a few instances of mating in the nest observed, but most often it will be on a high tree branch near the nest site. The locked talon spiral is often courtship behavior, but alternately it can be two males fighting. “When it comes to courtship, bald eagles put the wild in wildlife. The maneuver known as the cartwheel display or death spiral—is chief among their “spectacular courtship r