What Do Killer Whales (Orcas) Eat? 16 Animals They Hunt

Written by Kyle Glatz
Updated: September 21, 2023
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Killer whales (orca) are massive aquatic mammals and members of the dolphin family. Even though these creatures may resemble other gentle giants in the sea, the killer whale lives up to its name. They are apex predators that live in every ocean around the world. Since they are at the top of the food chain, it’s only fair to ask, what do killer whales eat?

We’re going to take a closer look at the foods that killer whales prefer, how they hunt, and how they deal with captivity and competition.

What Foods Do Killer Whales (Orcas) Eat?

What Do Killer Whales (Orcas) Eat
Killer whales eat fish, squid, seals, sea birds, and more.

Killer whales eat fish, marine mammals, seals, cephalopods, and even sea birds. The killer whale is a carnivore, so it only eats the meat from other creatures. Fortunately, the ocean has a bounty of prey. Since the killer whale is considered an apex predator, many creatures in the ocean are on the orca’s menu.

The foods that killer whales eat include:

It is important to note that orcas live in a vast range around the world, and several types of killer whales exist. Some of them might subsist mostly on seals while others, like resident killer whales, will mostly eat fish.  

Nevertheless, killer whales are not very picky when it comes to their food. They will feed on many foods to get the sustenance they need, and they need a lot of it!

How Much Do Killer Whales Eat?

What do whales eat - killer whale teeth

Killer whales need to eat hundreds of pounds of food each day.

©Heather Renee/Shutterstock.com

Killer whales are very large mammals that can weigh anywhere between 6,600 and 8,800 pounds on average. Larger killer whales can weigh up to 12,000 pounds, with the largest weighing over 20,000 pounds.

They routinely reach 20 feet in length and longer orcas can be 32 feet long. These mammals need a tremendous amount of energy to keep themselves moving through the ocean waters.

On average, a killer whale will eat between 100 and 300 pounds of food each day. That amount can drop in certain conditions, such as when orcas are held in captivity. They require less energy for foraging in that case, so their food requirements are not as high.  

How Do Killer Whales Hunt for Food?

The killer whale’s prey needs to worry about more than just their size and speed, capable of reaching bursts of 35 mph. Killer whales are highly intelligent creatures that hunt in very creative ways, including calling for some help.

Although the large size of whales might lead one to believe that they would need to hunt alone to find food, that’s not the case with killer whales. Killer whales will often hunt as a pod. Studies have revealed that some killer whales hunt in pods with as few as 7 members, while other gigantic pods will reach sizes of 40 killer whales.

The size of the pod ensures that they can track down food, surround them, and then move in for the kill. A common example of killer whales using teamwork to ensure they get a meal is when they encounter schools of fish. The orcas will creep up on the school from many directions, cutting off their avenues of escape.

Eventually, the fish will be effectively grouped up and guided towards the surface of the water. Once they are tightly packed, the whales will slam them with their massive tails, stunning or killing the fish outright. Then, the whales will pick them off while others keep herding the fish.

Another interesting facet of killer whales’ hunting habits is that they are smart enough to lay traps for other creatures. Researchers have witnessed orcas spitting fish near the surface of the water, waiting for birds to be enticed by the scent, and then eating both.  

Needless to say, when you put together size, strength, speed, and smarts, you get one incredibly capable hunter.

What Do Killer Whales Eat in Captivity?

A killer whale, Orcinus Orca

A killer whale in captivity has a different diet than a wild orca.

©FineShine/Shutterstock.com

In captivity, killer whales do not have to hunt for their food, it’s delivered to them. In some cases, orcas are given food for completing certain tricks. Their diet is far different in captivity than in the ocean and is focused on optimizing their health and longevity. Also, it’s not exactly possible to source the diverse meals orcas have in the wild.

Killer whales being kept in captivity will usually eat about 1% to 3.5% of their body weight in the following foods:

  • Salmon
  • Mackerel
  • Squid
  • Herring
  • Capelin.

These foods are similar to what some killer whales would eat in the wild. Moreover, every meal is tested for its nutritional value relative to the needs of the whale.

What Competes With Killer Whales for Food?

The killer whale might be at the top of the food chain, but it’s not the only carnivore swimming in the waters with a hunger to satisfy. The overlap in food supplies happens when other carnivores share the same diet or occupy the same area in large numbers.

Here is a list of the most frequent competitors for killer whales’ food:

This list should not be used to insinuate that any of the creatures will kill an orca and take its food. There is simply an overlap between their preferred meals. For instance, sea lions and seals might feast on the salmon that killer whales need to survive, but they’ll either flee or be eaten if a pod of hungry killer whales shows up.

Killer whales are top-tier predators that use their intelligence and size to hunt down a variety of creatures. Sadly, they are not doing well as a species. Some types of killer whales are considered endangered from humans hunting them in the past, pollution, and the loss of their preferred foods.

The future might see some of those smaller types disappearing entirely, but more studies are needed to investigate and overcome the obstacles to their survival.

What Eats Killer Whales?

As apex predators, killer whales have no known natural predators. Their lone threat from other animals has been from humans, who reduced their populations dramatically across the 20th century. In fact, killer whales are such fearsome predators that researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium discovered that when they entered an area great white sharks would flee! The research found that when killer whales arrived at a marine sanctuary near San Franciso, great whites would leave for an entire season.

Killer whales have not only been observed hunting great white sharks but can even hunt the world’s largest animal, the blue whale. In March 2021, a whale-watching tour of the coast of Australia discovered a massive pod of orcas hunting a blue whale that was estimated to be more than 50 feet in length.

Like all animals, killer whales can face threats when juveniles. However, since killer whales live in pods, even the youngest killer whales have protection from would-be predators.

Bonus: Killer Whales Add Shark Liver to Their Menus

Aggressive killer whales attack a peaceful whale shark in the blue depths of the sea

Pods of killer whales attack animals as large as

whale sharks

.


Image: Vladimir Turkenich, Shutterstock

©Vladimir Turkenich/Shutterstock.com

Researchers have recorded an alarming trend among killer whales that has confirmed both their intelligence and their astonishing capacity for carnage. Marine biologists with South African National Parks recorded the savage killing of 19 broadnose sevengill sharks by a pair of killer whales that ate their livers and left the rest of the carcasses to wash up along the beach. This same duo slaughtered eight great white sharks in 2017 – and in all but one case they consumed only the shark’s livers.

Why did the orcas eat only the liver of the shark? It seems that once they learned of the specific location of the liver on the shark’s body they worked out a strategy to obtain it and seemed to pass on that knowledge. Shark livers are highly nutritious containing large quantities of fat and vitamins. Orcas seemed to have learned this fact and actively seek out these high-energy nutrients. These frighteningly smart creatures also found that the large shark livers are buoyant – floating to the surface after the shark is killed for an easy energy snack.

This concerning behavior has been documented all over the world, including in North and South America, Australia, and New Zealand. As orcas spread the word about the benefits of eating shark livers – sharks seem to be learning to steer clear of the killer whales. When sharks abandon an area that it has traditionally inhabited it could impact an entire ecosystem.

Summary of What Killer Whales (Orcas) Eat

Here’s a recap of the foods that killer whales commonly consume:

NumberFood
1Seals
2Sea otters
3Harbor porpoise
4Salmon
5Dugongs
6Sea turtles
7Penguins
8Common scoter
9Pigeon guillemot
10Herring
11Mackerel
12Minke whales
13Dolphins
14Squid
15Humpback whale (calves)
16Moose (rare)

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Miles Away Photography/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Kyle Glatz is a writer at A-Z-Animals where his primary focus is on geography and mammals. Kyle has been writing for researching and writing about animals and numerous other topics for 10 years, and he holds a Bachelor's Degree in English and Education from Rowan University. A resident of New Jersey, Kyle enjoys reading, writing, and playing video games.

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