The Eating Habits of The Bald Eagle

Bald eagles are members of the hawk family. Like other raptors, they are birds of prey that eat other animals. Eagles love fish, especially the salmon, but will take other prey if necessary, even dead animals. Because of their preference for fish eagles usually seek out aquatic habitats (bays, lakes, large rivers).

Eagles are not as fast as falcons but can fly 30 miles and hour and may reach 100 miles an hour in a dive for food. They prefer to fly low and catch fish near the surface but they will go into the water if they have to and use their wings to swim. When an eagle’s open talons hit prey, the talons snap closed and cannot be opened until the eagle touches down on a solid surface. The eagle is only successful in about one out of 20 attacks so hunting uses up a lot of the eagles energy. That is why eagles spend a lot of time resting.

The bald eagle is an opportunistic forager, taking whatever prey is available and easiest to hunt. This large raptor will even steal food from other raptors. Eagles frequently watch an Osprey and wait for just the right moment to attack and startle the Osprey into dropping its catch.

Eagles do not have to eat everyday and have a pouch in their esophagus, called a "crop," where they can store food. They fish in both salt and fresh water. They will also ingest small mammals and carrion (dead animals). Fox, young deer, and even geese in flight are hunted as well.

Because of their size, the bald eagle requires a large hunting area, varying from 1700 to 10,000 acres.