Eagles are powerful birds of prey, known for their hunting prowess and strength. A common question is whether an eagle can pick up and carry an animal as large as a goat. This article explores their physical limits and what they can realistically achieve.
Eagle Strength and Lifting Capacity
Eagles possess remarkable physical adaptations that contribute to their strength, including powerful talons, robust musculature, and expansive wingspans. A bald eagle’s grip strength can exert around 400 pounds per square inch (psi), while a golden eagle’s grip can range from 440 to 750 psi. The harpy eagle, one of the most powerful eagle species, can exert approximately 550 psi, capable of crushing bone. This immense gripping power stems from strong leg muscles, tendons, and bones, allowing them to maintain pressure without constant muscle contraction.
Despite their impressive grip, an eagle’s lifting capacity is governed by the principles of aerodynamics and its own body weight. Bald eagles typically weigh between 6.6 and 13.9 pounds, with large females reaching up to 15 to 16 pounds, and have wingspans ranging from 5.5 to 8 feet. Golden eagles, similar in size, weigh 6.4 to 13.2 pounds and have wingspans between 72 and 86 inches. Harpy eagles, among the largest, can weigh around 20 pounds with a wingspan of 6 to 7 feet. While eagles can lift objects, their maximum load is generally limited to about half their body weight. Bald eagles typically lift 4 to 5 pounds but can occasionally manage up to 10 pounds, while golden eagles can lift 5 to 8 pounds, with some reports of up to 15 pounds for large females. The harpy eagle, known for its exceptional strength, has been reported to lift up to 20 pounds.
Common Prey for Eagles
The diet of eagles varies considerably depending on their species and geographical location. Bald eagles primarily consume fish, which can constitute between 56% and 90% of their diet, often snatching fish measuring 20 to 75 centimeters. They also hunt other birds, small mammals like rabbits and raccoons, reptiles, amphibians, and crustaceans. Bald eagles frequently scavenge on carrion, especially during winter or when live prey is scarce.
Golden eagles, found across the Northern Hemisphere, primarily prey on mammals, which make up 63% to 84% of their diet. Their staple prey includes leporids such as rabbits and hares, accounting for about 32% of their intake, and ground squirrels. They also hunt various birds, including grouse and pheasants, and reptiles. Golden eagles are capable of taking larger prey like beavers, foxes, geese, cranes, and young ungulates such as caribou calves and Dall sheep lambs. Most commonly, however, the prey an eagle typically carries weighs between 2 and 4 pounds.
The Reality of Lifting Large Animals
The idea of an eagle lifting and carrying an animal as large as a goat is not supported by scientific understanding of avian flight mechanics. A fully grown goat can weigh significantly more than an eagle’s maximum lifting capacity, typically ranging from 50 to over 100 pounds. Given that even the largest eagles can generally lift a maximum of 5 to 20 pounds, attempting to carry a goat would be physically impossible.
While golden eagles have been observed attacking larger prey, such as young deer or mountain goats, they cannot carry these animals off. Instead, if an eagle successfully kills such large prey, it typically feeds on it at the kill site. Reports of eagles carrying off domestic animals like large dogs or even human infants are largely unsubstantiated and contradict the known physical limits of these birds.
Eagle Hunting Strategies
Eagles employ diverse hunting strategies. Their exceptional eyesight, estimated to be four to eight times sharper than human vision, allows them to spot potential prey from distances of up to two miles. This acute vision is a fundamental tool in their hunting success.
One common hunting method involves soaring high above the ground, conserving energy by riding thermal updrafts, and then executing a rapid, high-speed dive known as a “stoop” once prey is sighted. This maneuver is particularly effective for catching fish or animals in open areas. Alternatively, eagles may engage in perch hunting, where they wait on an elevated vantage point, such as a tree or cliff, before swooping down on unsuspecting prey. This technique is often used by golden eagles when hunting mammals like rabbits and ground squirrels. Some eagle species also practice cooperative hunting. Eagles typically seize their prey without landing and carry it to a perch where they can tear it apart for consumption. Prey selection is influenced by factors such as size and vulnerability.