Eagles, with their commanding presence and sharp talons, are formidable hunters. While often perceived to eat only freshly caught prey, an eagle’s diet is more intricate. These apex predators also consume dead animals, demonstrating adaptability in their feeding habits.
Eagles as Scavengers
Eagles consume dead animals, a behavior known as scavenging. This opportunistic feeding strategy allows them to conserve energy and find sustenance when live prey is scarce. Bald Eagles, for instance, are frequently observed feeding on carrion, including roadkill or deceased marine animals like seals, otters, or whales washed ashore. They also gather at waste dumps or fish-processing plants. This scavenging is common during harsh winter months or periods of food scarcity, when hunting becomes more challenging.
Bald Eagles often eat dead fish, which form a significant part of their diet, but also feed on deceased birds and mammals. Golden Eagles also scavenge, with carrion making up a substantial portion of their diet, especially in winter when typical prey like ground squirrels are hibernating or rabbit populations are low. Studies show Golden Eagles regularly utilize ungulate carcasses, benefiting from available food sources throughout the year.
While Bald Eagles are generally more prone to scavenging than Golden Eagles, both species readily take advantage of dead animals. This behavior ensures they can sustain themselves even when hunting is not productive, making carrion a reliable food source. Eagles possess digestive systems that can handle decaying flesh, allowing them to process food unsuitable for other animals.
Eagle Diet Beyond Scavenging
While scavenging is a component of an eagle’s diet, their primary role is that of an active predator. Eagles are equipped with powerful talons and sharp beaks, designed for capturing and tearing prey. Their diets are diverse and depend heavily on their habitat and the availability of food sources.
For many eagle species, fish is a staple food. Bald Eagles, for example, primarily feed on fish, often found near large bodies of water such as coasts, rivers, and lakes. They typically snatch fish from the water’s surface with their talons, though they are not adapted for deep dives like some other fish-eating birds. Beyond fish, Bald Eagles also hunt a variety of other animals, including waterfowl such as ducks and geese, and small mammals like rabbits, squirrels, and muskrats. They may also prey on reptiles, including snakes and turtles.
Golden Eagles, conversely, predominantly hunt medium-sized mammals such as rabbits, hares, and ground squirrels in North America. They are also known to prey on birds, including grouse and other game birds, and occasionally larger animals like young deer. Golden Eagles employ diverse hunting techniques, including soaring high and then diving at speeds over 150 miles per hour, or hunting from a low flight to capture prey on the ground. Some eagle pairs even hunt cooperatively, with one bird flushing out prey towards another, demonstrating their coordinated predatory skills.