Diet

What do bald eagles eat?

Fish, waterfowl and carrion.

Hawks and eagles (Accipitridae)Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus

Spring and summer diet

  • Fish, especially near lakes and rivers

Fall and winter diet

  • Waterfowl, carrion and fish below dams

Best feeder foods

  • None — open water with fish is the draw

Now a regular sight over reservoirs and rivers nationwide after its recovery from DDT.

Which feeder works best for bald eagles →

Where bald eagles need winter food

Frequently asked

What do bald eagles eat?

Fish, waterfowl and carrion.

What is the best food to feed bald eagles?

None — open water with fish is the draw.

What do bald eagles eat in winter?

Waterfowl, carrion and fish below dams.

Sources

  1. Bald Eagle — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Bald Eagle life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Bald Eagle — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.