What is the main source of food for the bald eagle?

Fish is the primary food of bald eagles, but they will eat a variety of other animals and birds. Their prey items include waterfowl and small mammals like squirrels, prairie dogs, raccoons and rabbits. Bald eagles are opportunistic predators meaning that in addition to hunting for live prey, they will steal from other animals (primarily from other eagles or smaller fish eating birds) or scavenge on carrion.

The bald eagle is a member of the sea and fish eagle group. Its closest relatives, similar in appearance and habit, are found in Africa and Asia. Bald eagles live along the coast as well as by major lakes and rivers. They fish in both fresh and salt water.

The bald eagle can lift about four pounds and take flight from the surface of water.

More Info: www.nationaleaglecenter.org

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39 Comments

Spencer Thomas Hancock III

I was in a boat on the James river here in Virginia and one came from way the heck up in the air and picked a bass up right in front of us. A camera would have been nice to have at that special moment.

majohnson

Jim Hubbard, they do eat dead animals. They steal food from other animals dead or alive. When I was in Alaska I would see eagles and ravens getting their food out of garbages in store lots. You need to read up on them just bit a more. The explanation also says they scavenge.

Jill Pearson

I live on Lake Winnepesaukee and am lucky to see Bald Eagles often around here! They're so beautiful and majestic!

earlepg

Watching tv shows filmed in Alaska and a few of the lower 48 states, you constantly see the eagles diving for fish. Thus my answer.

earlepg

james parrillo, Fish and Game officials, federal and state, frown on feeding any wild animal because they easily become dependent on humans and they are frequently given things to eat that aren't good for them (think of feeding ducks bread; not good for their system). I see this caution being made many times on tv shows.

Player

I watched a webcam from Florida a while back showing the parents bringing the two chicks a lot of fish.

james parrillo

Ed Taber, How unfortunate! Why would it be wrong? Thank you, Christine, James's wife

karen twirly

The two times I saw Eagles in Pennsylvania they were eating road kill . I chose small rodents, wrong apparently.

Laura Wright

Not a good all encompassing question

Bradley D. Davenport

This question is a little off as they live in a variety of areas and eat a variety of foods can live where little fish are around they adapt

Ev Chanig

Yes they like fish but we have bald eagles on the prairies. They do well on ground squirrels.

garyjohnsusmc

I'm not too horribly close to a large source of water and found out there is a nesting pair of bald eagles not far from me; I saw one about two months ago and was pretty shocked - lots of squirrels and rabbits around here that they'll eat.