Eagles are carnivorous predators and tend to be opportunistic eaters, meaning they will feed on what is most available and requires the least amount of energy to acquire it. The diet of eagles varies depending on the species and the availability of food in their habitat. Here are some examples of what eagles eat:

• Bald Eagle: Fish comprise about 70 to 90 percent of the diet of Bald Eagles. They also eat sea birds, waterfowl, small mammals, and even snakes.

• Golden Eagle: Golden Eagles eat small mammals such as jackrabbits, mice, and prairie dogs. They may also eat reptiles, birds, fish, and even large insects. They are capable of killing larger birds and mammals, including deer and domestic livestock.

• Long-crested Eagle: The long-crested eagle’s diet consists almost entirely of rodents.

• African Fish Eagle: African fish eagle mostly feeds on fish (catfish and lungfish to be precise). They also eat flamingoes, other water birds, carrion, and other larger prey found on the ground bordering water.

In general, eagles feed on birds and mammals, and their diet is vast and spans pretty much all animals. So long as they are classified as vertebrates, eagles will eat them. Though some of the 60 species prefer one type of animal over others, most types will eat whatever they can catch and fly away with, even if it’s already dead when they find it.