The bald eagle is one of North America’s largest raptors, distinguished by its impressive size, powerful talons, and status as an apex predator within its ecosystem. A healthy adult bald eagle faces very few threats from other animals. The concept of what “hunts” the bald eagle must therefore be understood in the context of the bird’s life stage, as successful biological predation occurs almost exclusively against the young. This analysis focuses strictly on the animals that actively prey on bald eagles.
Predators of Eggs and Nestlings
The greatest threat to a bald eagle’s survival is the vulnerability of its earliest life stages: the egg and the nestling. Eagles build massive nests high in trees, but these structures are not immune to determined predators that can climb or fly.
Raccoons are one of the most significant non-avian predators, capable of climbing the nest tree to raid the eggs and newly hatched young. Parents’ defenses are often inadequate against these stealthy, nocturnal attacks. Black bears may also prey on nests if the tree structure allows them access.
Avian predators like crows and ravens pose a threat, particularly to eggs, as they work quickly or seize an opportunity when the nest is briefly unguarded. Other large raptors, including other eagles, can occasionally prey on nestlings, often due to intraspecies conflict. Raccoons and Great Horned Owls are responsible for a consistent percentage of nest failures annually.
Threats to Fledglings and Juveniles
Once an eaglet fledges, it enters a dangerous juvenile phase. These sub-adult birds lack the flight control and hunting proficiency of their parents, making them vulnerable to specific predators.
The Great Horned Owl (GHO) becomes the most consistent avian threat during this stage. The GHO is a powerful, nocturnal hunter that can successfully attack and kill a juvenile eagle. GHOs are also known to target eagle nests and will displace or kill young eagles to claim the nesting site for themselves.
Juvenile eagles are also at risk if they are grounded due to injury or a failed flight attempt, which exposes them to opportunistic terrestrial hunters. Coyotes and foxes, which generally cannot access a high nest, may prey on a grounded, flightless young eagle. The primary biological threat to the newly independent juvenile remains the GHO.
The Rare Predation of Adult Eagles
Healthy, full-grown bald eagles have almost no natural predators due to their large size and powerful talons. The Great Horned Owl (GHO) is the only consistent biological adversary capable of successfully preying on a healthy adult.
Because the eagle is diurnal and the owl is nocturnal, the GHO has the advantage of surprise, often attacking a roosting eagle under the cover of darkness. Instances of GHOs killing adult eagles are rare but documented, often occurring during territorial disputes.
A major source of mortality for adult eagles comes from other eagles. Territorial disputes and fights over food or mates can lead to vicious mid-air battles where eagles lock talons and spiral downward, sometimes resulting in fatal injuries upon impact with the ground. This intraspecies aggression represents a significant lethal biological threat.