What Do Eagles Eat?

Eagles eat a diverse range of prey items depending on species and habitat. Bald eagles, found near large bodies of water, primarily eat fish that they snatch from the water surface with their powerful talons. Fish make up the majority of a bald eagle's diet, including catfish, pike, carp, and trout. Bald eagles also hunt waterfowl including ducks, geese, and gulls, especially when fish become less available. Golden eagles, distributed across western and central United States, hunt small to medium-sized mammals as their primary prey. Ground squirrels, prairie dogs, rabbits, and hares are common golden eagle prey. Golden eagles occasionally take waterfowl and ground-nesting birds as well. Both species are opportunistic hunters that will take whatever prey is available and catchable. Larger eagles can take prey as large as jackrabbits and Canada geese. The talons of eagles are incredibly powerful, capable of piercing skulls and heavy feathers. Eagles often consume prey at perches rather than eating while flying. Learn more about these apex predators by visiting wildlife information or checking California eagle habitats.

Eagle diet varies significantly with seasons as availability of different prey species changes throughout the year. In spring and summer, fish populations are more accessible in rivers, lakes, and coastal areas, allowing bald eagles to feed regularly on abundant fish. Nesting eagles need enormous quantities of food to feed themselves and growing chicks. During breeding season, bald eagles fish heavily in spawning runs when salmon and other fish move upriver in summer and fall. Fall migration brings waterfowl southward into bald eagle territories, providing alternative prey when fish are less abundant or water bodies freeze. In winter, when lakes and rivers freeze over in northern regions, bald eagles must rely on open water areas or hunt terrestrial prey. Starving or weakened waterfowl are especially vulnerable to eagle predation during harsh winters. Golden eagles adjust their hunting as small mammal populations cycle through years of abundance and scarcity. Years when prairie dog colonies are large provide abundant prey for golden eagles. Spring calving of deer and elk provides newborn fawns and calves to predators, including eagles hunting in mountain regions. Eagles are powerful enough to hunt healthy adult deer and elk calves up to several weeks old.

Eagles use remarkable eyesight and hunting strategy to capture prey. From high altitude, eagles can spot fish moving in water or small mammals on the ground from distances of several miles away. When prey is spotted, an eagle dives rapidly from height, reaching speeds exceeding one hundred miles per hour. The eagle extends its talons at the last moment to grasp and pierce prey. Some prey items are too heavy to carry, and the eagle drags them across the ground or water to a nearby perch. Eagles primarily hunt from perches overlooking water or open terrain, watching for prey movement. They also hunt while soaring on thermal currents, scanning vast areas simultaneously. Bald eagles sometimes steal kills from other raptors or scavenge dead fish and animals. Pirating behavior, where eagles rob osprey or other eagles of their kills, is common among young birds still learning to hunt. Eagles return to established feeding perches where they consume meals. Very large prey like geese or catfish may require several hours to consume completely. Explore Texas eagle hunting to learn about hunting in different regions. Feathers from killed waterfowl can be plucked around feeding perches.

Eagle diet varies significantly across the diverse regions and habitats of the United States. Bald eagles in coastal areas feed primarily on fish and marine waterfowl, benefiting from abundant marine and estuarine food sources. Inland bald eagles near lakes and rivers hunt freshwater fish and waterfowl. Rivers with spawning salmon provide concentrated food sources that support large numbers of bald eagles during specific seasons. Bald eagles in the eastern United States share habitat with golden eagles, though bald eagles prefer larger bodies of water. Golden eagles in the western mountain states hunt marmots, ground squirrels, and prairie dogs in open and semi-open terrain. Golden eagles in southwestern desert regions hunt jackrabbits and desert mammals adapted to arid environments. Southern states support year-round eagle populations, while northern regions see seasonal variation as birds migrate. Tropical and subtropical regions of southern Florida and Texas provide year-round hunting opportunities. Check Florida eagle information for details on southeastern populations. Urban and suburban areas near water bodies increasingly support bald eagle populations that hunt in developed areas. Small lakes and reservoirs in all regions can support eagles if they have suitable perches and productive fishing habitat.

Nesting eagles require enormous quantities of food to feed themselves and their growing offspring. A breeding pair must catch enough prey to feed themselves while also feeding chicks that demand food multiple times daily. Chicks grow rapidly, doubling or tripling their weight within weeks, requiring constant hunting and food delivery. A nesting pair may hunt ten to twenty hours per day to meet their family's caloric demands. Both parent eagles hunt during the breeding season, unlike many bird species where only males hunt. Males typically bring food to the nest where the female tears small pieces for chicks to eat. After several weeks, chicks are large enough to tear up prey themselves, reducing the processing work required. Chicks remain dependent on parents for two to three months after fledging, continuing to demand food as they learn to hunt. Breeding eagles often claim and defend territories years in advance of nesting, ensuring access to good hunting habitat. The energy cost of reproduction explains why eagles require substantial territories with abundant prey. Successful chick fledging depends entirely on the parents' ability to acquire sufficient food. Years with poor prey availability result in nesting failure or reduced fledging success.

Eagles increasingly live and hunt near human settlements, particularly in developed areas near large water bodies. Urban and suburban lakes, reservoirs, and rivers can provide adequate fishing habitat for bald eagles. Dams create large lakes that support fish populations, and winter ice-free areas below dams attract eagles and waterfowl. Some eagles hunt in urban parks and golf course ponds where they can access fish in shallow water. Residential areas with large waterfront properties sometimes have resident eagles hunting nearby. Never attempt to feed eagles or leave dead fish or game animals as food sources. Intentional feeding of eagles can cause them to become dependent on humans and lose natural hunting skills. Eagles scavenging dead livestock or game animals are sometimes mistakenly seen as predatory when they are actually benefiting from available carrion. Residential cats and small dogs left outdoors near eagle habitat are occasionally taken by eagles, particularly juvenile birds still learning to hunt. Pesticide use reduces fish and mammal populations that eagles depend on for food. Preserving healthy prey populations through wise land management benefits eagle populations far more than any direct feeding.

Eagles occupy a unique place among North American raptors due to their size and power. Hawks such as red-tailed hawks hunt smaller prey, mostly rodents, snakes, and small birds, weighing less than three pounds. Owls hunt similar prey to hawks and often share nocturnal hunting times, avoiding direct competition with eagles. Osprey specialize in fish hunting like bald eagles, but their smaller size limits them to fish weighing less than one pound. Falcons including peregrine falcons hunt birds in flight, taking advantages of speed that eagles cannot match. Vultures are scavengers that feed on carrion, never actively hunting live prey. Eagles' combination of size, power, and adaptability allows them to hunt larger and more diverse prey than other raptors. Bald eagles can capture waterfowl and fish far too large for other raptors to manage. Golden eagles can take prey as large as small jackrabbits and can even threaten young deer and elk calves. This powerful predatory role makes eagles apex predators across much of their range. The keystone predator role of eagles influences entire ecosystems through their hunting impact.