Eagles are apex avian predators with a highly adaptable diet. The common rock pigeon falls within their potential prey range, and eagles can and sometimes do consume them. However, this behavior is not a regular occurrence for most species. Whether a pigeon becomes an eagle’s meal depends significantly on the specific eagle species, its environment, and the availability of preferred food sources. This occasional predation highlights the opportunistic nature of these raptors.
Specificity of Eagle Species and Pigeon Predation
The propensity for an eagle to target a pigeon varies greatly between the two primary eagle species found in North America: the Bald Eagle and the Golden Eagle. Bald Eagles, which are primarily associated with coastlines and large bodies of water, are specialized fish-eaters, with fish comprising an estimated 70 to 90 percent of their total diet. Pigeon consumption by a Bald Eagle is a rare, opportunistic event, typically occurring when the eagle is far from its aquatic habitat or when usual food sources are scarce, especially during severe weather or winter months.
Golden Eagles, by contrast, are more likely to prey on pigeons due to their preference for medium-sized birds and mammals in open, rugged country. They are powerful hunters that specialize in lagomorphs, such as rabbits and hares, and various rodents, but birds form the most diverse class of prey in their diet. While a pigeon is a relatively small target for a Golden Eagle, nestling rock pigeons have been documented as prey items found near their nests. This behavior illustrates opportunistic predation, where the eagle exploits an easy meal of convenience rather than expending high energy on a sustained chase.
Typical Hunting Habits and Primary Eagle Diet
The infrequent nature of pigeon predation for most eagles is best understood by looking at their standard ecological roles and hunting strategies. Bald Eagles, for instance, are classified as piscivores, frequently hunting by soaring above water before grabbing fish from the surface with their powerful talons. They are also known to scavenge carrion or engage in kleptoparasitism, which is the act of stealing prey from other birds like Ospreys.
Golden Eagles are adapted for open-country hunting, often surveying vast areas from a high perch or while soaring before initiating a swift, powerful dive. Their diet is heavily skewed toward ground-dwelling mammals, and they typically require 230 to 250 grams of food daily. The typical prey weight for a Golden Eagle falls between 0.5 and 4 kilograms, which is substantially larger than a pigeon. While they possess the physical capability to catch a pigeon, the effort often outweighs the caloric reward compared to catching a rabbit.
Why Pigeons Are Targeted in Urban Environments
The shift in diet to include pigeons often correlates directly with the expansion of human settlements and the resulting ecological changes. Urban environments create a high density of rock pigeons, a domestic species that lacks the strong anti-raptor defenses of many wild birds. This concentration of vulnerable prey makes them an easy and predictable caloric option for an eagle that finds itself near a suburban or urban area.
Pigeons’ habits, such as predictable roosting locations and foraging in open spaces, increase their vulnerability to raptors. When an eagle’s preferred wild prey becomes scarce, such as when drought reduces rabbit populations, the abundant pigeon population serves as a low-effort substitute. This reliance on domestic prey has been observed in various raptor species facing a shortage of key wild food sources. High concentrations of pigeons, often supported by human activities like spilled grain near rail yards, effectively draw eagles into temporary contact with this readily available food source.