Quick Take
- A juvenile bald eagle appears to miss a fish in midair before recovering it, offering a rare look at how young eagles handle food while still dependent on adults.
- Bald eagles are closely tied to lakes, rivers, coasts, and other large bodies of water because fish make up much of their diet.
- Although they are expert fish hunters, bald eagles are also opportunistic feeders that will eat birds, carrion, and even scavenge at landfills.
When you are a bald eagle, being able to grab and carry fish on the wing is a key skill. So, you may as well start young! In this amazing clip, a juvenile bald eagle is being taught the ropes by its parents. The video appears to show an adult eagle dropping or losing a fish in flight while the juvenile tries to grab it. At first, things do not go well, but the young bird recovers the situation and gets a tasty snack as a reward.
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Where Do Bald Eagles Normally Live?
Bald eagles are native to North America and occur across Alaska, Canada, the contiguous United States, and parts of northern Mexico; they also occur on islands such as Saint Pierre and Miquelon. You are most likely to spot bald eagles near large lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and coasts; Alaska is a major stronghold, and wintering birds are widespread across much of the United States. There are also large populations in some areas of the Midwest. Their abundance varies by region, season, and the availability of open water and food.
When it comes to habitat, bald eagles are usually found near large bodies of water. Therefore, you will most likely spot them on the coast, around coastal estuaries, and near lakes and rivers.
Bald eagles usually nest away from heavily developed areas, but they can tolerate human activity when feeding and may gather where food is concentrated, such as below dams, at fish-processing sites, or even at dumps. They also like to live near tall trees where they build their nests. That said, some have been seen nesting on the ground or cliffs. Occasionally, they nest on electrical poles and cell phone towers. Some bald eagles, especially those breeding farther north, move south or toward coastal and other open-water areas in winter.
What Do Bald Eagles Normally Eat?
Bald eagles like to eat fish.
©Brian E Kushner/Shutterstock.com
The reason that bald eagles spend so much time near water is that they are very keen on fish. For many bald eagles, fish make up the largest share of the diet. Bald eagles catch a wide variety of fish, depending on what is locally available. They do not submerge their bodies in the water when grabbing the prey. Instead, they pick it off from the surface.
In addition to fish, bald eagles may eat waterfowl and other birds, small mammals, carrion, and occasionally eggs. They have also been seen eating human refuse at landfills.
