Eagles symbolize courage, strength, freedom, and a lot of other noble qualities.
Not surprisingly, these birds are apex predators in their environment, and it is hard to imagine any animal that can hunt down an eagle.
Even ferocious land mammals can’t get an eagle that’s flying high. However, this doesn’t mean that eagles are impervious to being prey.
The adult, healthy eagle can’t be preyed on, but baby eagles can be hunted down by different animals as meal.
Adult eagles that are injured may also fall prey to some predators.
Surprised? Let’s look further into what animals eat eagles and what they eat in the food chain.
Eagle Predators: What Eats Eagles?
This is the interesting part. We know eagles are predators, but one would be skeptical about them being prey.
We should remember, though, that baby eagles are smaller and more fragile. They won’t be able to put up a fight.
Here is a list of animals that eat eagles:
1. Hawks
Another raptor bird, the hawk, also dominates the skies.
They are often considered strong rivals of the eagles, though it is rare to see an adult eagle and hawk clash.
It seems that they mind their businesses while staying active.
However, hawks do not extend the same courtesy to an eagle’s nest, especially if, for some reason, the nest is left abandoned.
Once there are eggs or eaglets in there, the hawk has found its next meal. This is only easy and possible when the adult eagle isn’t around.
When the eagle is supervising her nest, she may get into a fight with an intruding hawk.
Eagles are stronger, so it doesn’t always end well for the hawk.
2. Monkeys
Can a monkey eat eagles? Many people often associate monkeys with fruits, but they can also go after meat.
These arboreal mammals can reach an eagle’s nest with ease and help themselves to some eggs.
It often eats the eggs more than the eaglets, but no doubt the mama eagle is never pleased to see some of her eggs gone missing.
Like the hawks, monkeys would prefer an unprotected nest.
No doubt the mother eagle wouldn’t let a monkey take away one of her precious eggs without rushing to defend herself.
Here’s more in-depth coverage of the wide-ranging diet of monkeys.
3. Wolves
Wolves can’t get to an eagle’s nest (they aren’t arboreal and can’t climb very well), so they are unlikely to get to the nest.
They can’t fly either, so they would be unable to reach an adult eagle. How then are wolves eagle predators?
They attack injured and weak eagles that can’t fly. Usually, eagles tend to avoid injuries and do what they can to retreat to their nest.
However, that doesn’t always work, and they may find themselves on the ground. Wolves take advantage.
4. Tigers
Tigers are regarded as the king of the jungle, and as apex predators, they fear no one.
They share a common habitat with eagles, and the only advantage an eagle has over a tiger is that eagles can fly really fast. This can keep them out of the tiger’s reach.
However, the tiger is one animal that can attack a healthy eagle if the eagle flies too low.
This can happen when the said eagle is targeting prey without noticing the tiger close by.
Eagles are strong and can put up a fight, but it is hard against a tiger. Tigers also hunt eagles when the latter is injured.
5. Snakes
Snakes are the biggest enemies of an eagle’s eggs as eggs make up a large part of their diet, and they can slither up a tree.
They pose a bigger danger than monkeys because they don’t just focus on the eggs. They devour the eaglets as well.
Of course, this invasion can only work on an abandoned nest.
Eagles ensure they defend their nests at all costs, and they are known to form families of males and females to keep watch. It would be hard for a snake to invade with an eagle guarding.
6. Vultures
Another bird that hunts down eagles is the vulture. Vultures don’t go after the eagle’s nests as hawks do, but that doesn’t make them less dangerous.
When an eagle is lying injured on the ground, that’s when they are vulnerable to vultures.
Vultures are scavengers, but they are also carnivorous.
They can hunt down both living and dead animals, and while their diet consists mainly of carrion, nothing stops them from going for the kill when they sight an injured eagle.
7. Other Eagles
The last predator of an eagle is its fellow eagle. This is an animal example of enemies being in the same household, but in this case, it is more of an invasion of territories.
Recall that eagles can migrate if there’s a shortage of food. An eagle may move into the territory of another eagle.
These birds aren’t the best examples of hospitality and brotherhood.
The invading eagle may look for opportunities to eat the eggs or eaglets of the home eagle, while the latter will be defensive and would want to protect its nest. This can lead to a clash.
What Do Eagles Eat?
Eagles are considered opportunistic hunters. This means that they don’t have a specific preference amongst their prey but can make do with what they find.
Eagles eat both living and dead animals and may migrate if food is scarce in their region.1 If you have a kitten and eagles are common in your area, beware.
They can eat kittens.2 A few go after puppies, but that’s something hawks do more.
Having said this, there are still animals that commonly appear on the eagle’s menu. They include:
- Fish
- Squirrels and other rodents
- Mammals like rabbits
- Antelopes
- Sheep
- Waterfowl
- Smaller birds
- Carrion (corpse)
The hunting tools eagles use are their eyesight and their sharp claws.
Their sight enables them to detect prey from above, and from there, they swoop in, claws ready to grab the unsuspecting animal.
The claws are enough to kill with one strike. They usually go for small prey, but they can feast on a big one if it’s too weak.
Wrap Up
The eagle is deserving of every image and symbol ascribed to it. It is a proud apex predator of the sky, with few enemies and many preys at its disposal.
This opportunistic bird won’t hesitate to grab prey when need be.
However, they can also fall victim to some predators, whether in their infancy stage or as a wounded adult.
Monkeys, tigers, and hawks are just some examples of animals that eat eagles.
References & Notes
- Migrating in the Fall? Journey North.
- Eagle cam shows eagles feeding cat to young. USA Today.
