Eagles are among the most iconic and powerful birds in the world. Known for their sharp eyesight, incredible strength and commanding presence, these raptors dominate the skies of forests, mountains, wetlands and coastal regions. Understanding what eagles eat helps explain why they are such successful predators and how they maintain their position at the top of the food chain. Their diet is as impressive as their hunting abilities, revealing the deep connection between these birds and the ecosystems they rule.
The feeding habits of eagles vary widely depending on species and habitat. Some specialize in hunting fish in fast-moving rivers, while others pursue mammals across open fields or scan forest floors for reptiles and birds. Eagles use exceptional vision—eight times sharper than humans—to locate prey from great distances. Once spotted, they dive with remarkable speed, capturing animals with powerful talons capable of exerting massive pressure.
This guide explores 20 foods eagles hunt in the wild, showcasing the versatility, strength and precision that define these magnificent raptors. Their diet illustrates how eagles adapt to seasonal changes, migration and shifting prey availability across diverse landscapes.
Understanding the Eagle Diet
Eagles are carnivorous birds of prey that rely primarily on hunting live animals. Their diet consists of fish, mammals, birds and reptiles, depending on the region and species. Bald eagles, for example, specialize in fish but are opportunistic enough to eat birds or carrion when necessary. Golden eagles focus more on mammals and occasionally hunt large prey such as foxes or young deer.
Eagles depend on physical adaptations to secure their meals. Their hooked beaks tear flesh efficiently, while their talons deliver lethal grip strength. Their wings allow silent, steady flight followed by swift dives that surprise prey. In harsh seasons or during migrations, eagles may scavenge or steal food from other birds—behavior that ensures they conserve energy when hunting becomes difficult.
Their diet not only sustains them but also helps maintain balance within ecosystems. By controlling populations of fish, rodents and other small animals, eagles support biodiversity and reduce overpopulation of certain species. Understanding their food choices reveals how these birds thrive in both wild and human-influenced environments.
20 Foods Eagles Hunt in the Wild
1. Fish
Fish are the foundation of the diet for many eagle species, especially bald eagles that live near lakes, rivers and coastlines. These birds rely on their incredible eyesight to detect fish swimming close to the surface, even in turbulent or reflective water. Their approach is silent and calculated, allowing them to take advantage of a fish’s momentary exposure.
When an eagle dives, it extends its talons forward and strikes with exceptional accuracy. The grip is strong enough to penetrate slippery scales and hold on even as the fish thrashes. Larger eagles may struggle initially with heavy fish, but their powerful wingbeats lift the prey from the water with surprising ease.
Fish offer rich protein, omega oils and moisture that support energy production, feather health and temperature regulation. For many eagles, especially those living in cold or coastal regions, fish are essential for year-round survival.
2. Salmon
Salmon provide one of the most abundant seasonal meals in nature during their iconic upstream migrations. At these times, rivers teem with exhausted, spawning salmon that make easy targets for eagles perched along rocky outcrops or tall trees. Even healthy salmon become vulnerable when navigating shallow, fast-moving waters.
Eagles often seize the opportunity to catch live fish, but they also rely on already weakened or dead salmon washed against riverbanks. This scavenging behavior is highly efficient and conserves energy when the birds face harsh weather or strong river currents.
The high fat content of salmon is especially valuable during winter, migration and breeding seasons. These nutrients help eagles build body reserves and maintain strong muscle function.
3. Trout
Trout live in clear, cold streams where eagles excel at visual hunting. Their shimmering scales reflect sunlight, making them easy to detect from above. Trout are also agile, requiring eagles to time their dives precisely to intercept their rapid movements.
Eagles usually perch silently above waterways, scanning for the right moment. Once spotted, they plunge downward with controlled speed, barely touching the water as their talons close around the fish. Their balance and grip allow them to recover quickly and return to a feeding perch.
Trout-rich habitats support stable eagle populations because they supply consistent protein, essential oils and hydration throughout much of the year.
4. Rabbits
Rabbits are among the most dependable mammalian prey for eagles. They inhabit open fields, meadows and forest edges, all ideal hunting grounds for these raptors. Eagles use elevated perches to observe rabbits grazing before launching powerful, sudden attacks.
Once the eagle commits, its talons spread wide and strike with crushing force. Smaller rabbits can be carried back to a perch, while larger ones are often eaten on the ground or broken into manageable pieces. In many landscapes, rabbits form the backbone of the eagle’s diet.
Their meat provides a balance of fat and protein that supports muscle function, chick feeding and sustained flight during long hunting days.
5. Hares
Hares present a greater challenge than rabbits due to their speed, agility and habit of using zigzag escape patterns. Eagles counter these moves by soaring high until they detect movement, then diving sharply to close the distance before the hare can reach shelter.
Golden eagles are particularly skilled at hunting large hares, sometimes engaging in dramatic chases across open terrain. Their powerful wings and deep chest muscles give them the acceleration needed to match the hare’s bursts of speed.
Because hares are larger than rabbits, they provide eagles with enough energy to last through long periods of cold weather, sparse food or active nesting seasons.
6. Mice
Mice thrive in almost every ecosystem, making them one of the most easily accessible prey animals in the eagle’s diet. Eagles detect mice by watching for subtle rustles in the grass or soil disturbances.
They strike quickly, often capturing mice before the small mammals even notice the threat overhead. Young eagles learning to hunt frequently practice on mice because the prey is small, numerous and easy to spot.
Although small, mice supply consistent protein and play an important role in the diet of both adult and juvenile eagles.
7. Ground Squirrels
Ground squirrels live in colonies on open ground where eagle attacks are highly effective. Eagles soar above these areas, watching for squirrels that venture too far from their burrows.
When a squirrel freezes or pauses to forage, an eagle may dive instantly, pinning the animal with a firm grip. Some eagles carry the prey away, while others consume it on the spot depending on size and competition.
Ground squirrels provide essential moisture and nutrients, especially in dry environments where water and prey can be scarce.
8. Prairie Dogs
Prairie dogs form large social colonies that attract eagles looking for sizeable meals. From great heights, eagles track their movements, waiting for an opening. Unlike smaller rodents, prairie dogs require precise timing because they can retreat underground in seconds.
Some eagles use teamwork—one bird flushes the prairie dogs while the other attacks from above. This cooperative style increases hunting success in large prairie ecosystems.
Prairie dogs provide substantial energy, making them valuable prey during breeding periods or cold seasons.
9. Snakes
Snakes are common prey in warmer climates and open desert or savanna environments. Eagles glide silently, watching for the slightest movement along the ground. Once identified, they strike before the snake can react or coil defensively.
Their talons pin snakes safely behind the head, while the beak delivers quick, effective bites. Some eagle species, including serpent eagles, specialize almost entirely in snake hunting.
Snakes are plentiful in many regions and offer protein-dense meals that support an eagle’s demanding energy needs.
10. Lizards
Lizards are agile prey that require fast reflexes and strategic hunting. Eagles locate them basking on rocks or moving across open patches. Their attacks rely on speed and surprise, preventing lizards from darting into crevices.
Once caught, lizards provide a nutrient-rich meal packed with minerals and moisture. They are especially important in arid ecosystems where mammal populations fluctuate with rainfall.
During dry seasons, lizards become one of the most reliable sources of food for many eagle species.
11. Frogs
Frogs inhabit wetlands, ponds and marshes where eagles frequently hunt. Their sudden jumps and splashing draw eagle attention, prompting swift, ground-level strikes.
Eagles may snatch frogs directly from muddy banks or shallow waters. Their talons secure the frog with minimal resistance, and the bird may eat it whole or tear it apart depending on size.
Frogs are vital during wet seasons when amphibian populations peak, providing hydration in addition to protein.
12. Ducks
Ducks require exceptional hunting skill. Eagles may pursue them in mid-air, ambush them on water surfaces or take advantage of moments when ducks are resting or distracted.
During aerial chases, eagles use sudden dives and quick wingbeats to disrupt duck formations. They may also lift ducks out of the water with powerful talons, often causing dramatic splashes.
Ducks offer highly nutritious meals that help eagles build fat reserves for migration or breeding.
13. Smaller Birds
Small birds such as finches, starlings and blackbirds are quick prey but still within reach of agile eagle species. Eagles catch them by accelerating rapidly from a high perch and grabbing them mid-flight.
In forests and meadows, eagles may also target birds feeding on the ground or low branches. Young eagles refine their hunting techniques on small birds due to their abundance and accessibility.
These meals supply immediate energy during active hunting days.
14. Coots and Grebes
Wetland birds like coots and grebes inhabit deep waters where they dive frequently. Eagles take advantage of their predictable behavior, swooping down just as the birds surface for air.
Because coots and grebes sometimes travel in groups, an eagle may circle above them before selecting a target. Their dense bodies offer high-fat content that benefits eagles during cold months.
These hunts showcase the eagle’s patience, intelligence and excellent timing.
15. Crabs (Coastal Eagles)
In coastal ecosystems, crabs become a surprisingly important food source. Eagles search tidal flats at low tide, flipping over rocks or capturing exposed crabs in shallow pools.
Their talons clamp down on the crab’s shell, and the beak cracks it open to reach the meat inside. Crabs provide minerals, protein and moisture, making them valuable supplements to fish-based diets.
For coastal eagles, crabs help diversify food intake in seasons when fish scarcity occurs.
16. Turtles (Young or Small)
Small turtles and hatchlings are vulnerable to eagle attacks, especially when they emerge from nests along sandy riverbanks. Eagles detect their movement from above and dive quickly before the turtles reach the safety of water.
The talons puncture the soft areas of the shell, allowing the eagle to access nutritious flesh. This prey is seasonal but highly beneficial when available.
Turtle hatchlings provide concentrated protein and moisture that support growing juveniles.
17. Carrion
Carrion forms an important backup food source when hunting becomes inefficient or dangerous. Eagles feed on dead deer, fish, livestock remains or roadkill, especially during winter when live prey is scarce.
Scavenging allows eagles to conserve energy, which is vital during storms, long migrations or cold nights. Bald eagles are known for stealing food from other birds or scavenging along shorelines.
Carrion supports survival during the hardest seasons and reduces energy expenditure significantly.
18. Muskrats
Muskrats inhabit marshes, slow-moving rivers and wetlands—prime hunting grounds for eagles. Their slow movements on land make them easier to catch compared to their agile behavior in water.
Eagles dive low over water edges or attack muskrats as they climb onto land to feed. Their bodies provide substantial meat and fat, making them prized prey in water-rich habitats.
Muskrat populations fluctuate with water levels, influencing eagle hunting patterns.
19. Young Rabbits and Mammal Pups
In spring, many mammals give birth, offering eagles an abundance of small, vulnerable prey. Young rabbits, fox pups and ground-dwelling mammal infants are frequent targets.
Eagles patrol open areas for signs of movement around burrows or nests. Their strikes are swift, aimed at preventing the young animals from retreating underground.
These meals provide moisture, protein and essential nutrients that help parent eagles feed rapidly growing chicks.
20. Large Insects
Large insects such as grasshoppers, beetles and cicadas supplement the diet of many eagle species, especially juveniles. These insects are easier to catch and help young eagles develop hunting accuracy.
During hot seasons, insect populations increase dramatically, offering an easy food source. Eagles catch insects in mid-air or pluck them from vegetation.
Though not a primary food source for adults, insects fill nutritional gaps and support early hunting behavior.
FAQs About What Do Eagles Eat
What do eagles eat the most?
Mostly fish and small mammals, depending on species.
Do eagles eat snakes?
Yes, many species hunt snakes regularly.
Do eagles scavenge?
Yes. They opportunistically eat carrion, especially in winter.
Are eagles carnivores?
Fully carnivorous—they rely on animal protein.
Do eagles eat birds?
Yes. They hunt ducks, smaller birds and waterfowl.
Do baby eagles eat the same foods?
They eat regurgitated prey from parents, mostly fish or meat.
Do eagles drink water?
They get moisture from prey but may drink occasionally.
What helps eagles catch prey?
Sharp eyesight, strong talons, fast dives and powerful wings.
Do eagles eat insects?
They sometimes supplement with large insects.
What is a golden eagle’s main food?
Mostly mammals like rabbits, hares and ground squirrels.
Final Thoughts
Eagles are extraordinary hunters whose diets reflect the ecosystems they inhabit. By understanding what eagles eat, we gain insight into their survival strategies, hunting skills and ecological influence. From hunting fish in swift rivers to capturing mammals across open fields or pursuing birds in mid-air, eagles adapt to every challenge nature presents. Their diverse prey list illustrates not only their power but also the vital role they play in maintaining balance in the wild.
