Eagles are recognized birds of prey found across diverse landscapes worldwide. These large, powerful birds have keen eyesight, robust bodies, and strong talons, positioning them at the top of their food chain. As apex predators, eagles play a role in maintaining ecosystem balance.
Primary Prey
Eagles primarily eat live prey, with their diet varying by species and environment.
Fish are a substantial part of the diet for many eagles, particularly Bald Eagles and sea eagles, which skillfully snatch fish from the water’s surface. Bald Eagles are opportunistic, also eating mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
Beyond aquatic prey, eagles hunt small to medium-sized mammals such as rabbits, hares, squirrels, marmots, and ground squirrels. Larger eagle species, like the Golden Eagle, can take down bigger prey, including young deer or goats, though these form a smaller portion of their overall diet.
Birds also feature prominently in an eagle’s diet, with waterfowl, gulls, and even other raptors becoming prey. Some eagles also consume reptiles like snakes and turtles, and amphibians, depending on local availability.
While active hunters, many species, including Bald and Golden Eagles, readily consume carrion, especially when live prey is scarce.
Hunting and Foraging Strategies
Eagles employ various strategies to acquire food, relying on their exceptional sensory abilities and physical adaptations.
Their vision is among the sharpest in the animal kingdom, allowing them to spot prey from great distances, sometimes up to two miles away for a rabbit-sized animal. This remarkable visual acuity stems from a high density of light-sensitive cells and multiple foveae in their eyes, enabling precise focus and depth perception.
Eagles often conserve energy by soaring on thermal updrafts or perching high on trees or cliffs, patiently scanning the terrain below for potential meals. Once prey is identified, they execute powerful dives or sustained chases.
Their primary tools for capturing and subduing prey are their formidable talons, which exert immense pressure, allowing them to grasp and incapacitate their catch.
Some eagles also engage in kleptoparasitism, a strategy where they steal food from other birds. Bald Eagles, for example, pursue ospreys and force them to drop their freshly caught fish, which the eagle then retrieves.
Dietary Variation and Specialization
An eagle’s diet is not uniform across all species or even within the same species across different regions, reflecting their adaptability.
Different eagle species exhibit specialized diets; for instance, Bald Eagles predominantly consume fish, while Golden Eagles primarily hunt mammals and birds. This specialization is often dictated by prey availability in their specific habitats.
Geographic location plays a significant role in dietary composition; eagles near coastlines or large bodies of water tend to have a fish-heavy diet, whereas those in mountainous or open grassland areas may rely more on terrestrial mammals.
Seasonal changes also influence what eagles eat. During winter, when live prey may be less abundant, many eagles become more opportunistic, incorporating more carrion into their diet.
This flexibility underscores that eagles are generalist predators, adapting their feeding habits to consume accessible food sources.