Watch a Bald Eagle and a Goose Square Off on a Frozen Tundra

Bald Eagle in Binghamton, New York
© Marcy Herrick/Shutterstock.com

Written by Megan Martin

Published: September 7, 2023

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Have you ever seen a bald eagle and goose go head-to-head? You will when you watch the video at the end of this article!

In the video, a bald eagle and a species of goose are along on the frozen surface of a tundra. The goose is either a Canada goose or a cackling goose by its appearance. Feathers litter the ground, and the goose appears to be already injured, although the video leaves it unclear whether the attack came from the eagle or a previous predator. Despite the injury, however, the goose is unwilling to back down. It attempts to stand, wings spread, as if to intimidate the eagle from attacking again. The eagle leaps into the air several times, perhaps considering striking the goose, but no attack occurs. By the end of the video, the goose is alive, but the eagle still looms over it, both of their fates unknown.

A Bald Eagle flying with the backdrop of one of Alaska's glacier's Grewingk.

Bald eagles are proficient hunters with a widely varying diet.

©iStock.com/Kandfoto

Do Bald Eagles Eat Geese?

As a raptor and expert hunter, bald eagles will feast on a variety of prey. This includes other birds and even larger species, such as geese. However, although they can and do hunt geese, bald eagles are likelier to choose smaller prey, such as fish. This is because they can be easier to catch and fly away with, using up less energy.

While bald eagles may be raptors, however, a healthy goose is often able to hold its own against one of these birds of prey. As a result, it is much more common to see bald eagles choosing to pursue geese or even ducks that are already injured.

Other common animals that make up the bald eagle’s diet include:

  • Sea birds
  • Rabbits
  • Muskrats
  • Squirrels
  • Prairie dogs
  • Turkey
  • Swans
  • Carrion (when young).

Watch the Shocking Video Below

Bald eagles will often attempt to hunt injured geese.

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About the Author

Megan is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is birds, felines, and sharks. She has been researching and writing about animals for four years, and she holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with minors in biology and professional and technical writing from Wingate University, which she earned in 2022. A resident of North Carolina, Megan is an avid birdwatcher that enjoys spending time with her cats and exploring local zoological parks with her husband.

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