Bald eagles primarily feed on fish. They also prey on small mammals, reptiles, rabbits, squirrels, prairie dogs, birds, turtles, and carrion when food is scarce. Prey generally ranges from small fish to animals weighing no more than 4–5 pounds.
They hunt near open bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, and shorelines. Adults weigh 8 to 14 pounds with wingspans of 5.9 to 7.5 feet or more. They can spot fish underwater while soaring hundreds of feet in the air and swiftly plunge to grasp their catch with sharp talons.