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Yes. Bald eagles that forage along coasts and marine waters eat saltwater fish. Fish are a staple food, but bald eagles are opportunistic: depending on what is available nearby, they also eat seabirds, waterfowl, small mammals, marine invertebrates, and carrion. Not every bald eagle lives near the sea, and there is no single fish percentage that applies to the whole species.
How bald eagles get fish
Bald eagles hunt by watching for prey and can dive to catch fish. They do not have to catch every fish alive: the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service says they also scavenge dead fish and animals. The agency describes them as “opportunistic feeders, with fish being a staple food.” U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Bald Eagle
Coastal and marine foraging simply gives an eagle access to saltwater fish; saltwater is not a special dietary requirement. The balance of fish and other prey depends on local availability. Federal information on Alaska raptors also describes a varied diet that can include birds and other prey. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Eagles and Raptors
What studies found in coastal and island populations
Local studies illustrate how much diets can differ. Their percentages describe particular study populations and methods, not all bald eagles.
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| Study location and population | Reported diet estimates | What the figures show |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Catalina Island, Channel Islands; 2015 study | About 60% marine fish and 25–30% seabirds | Marine fish made up a substantial estimated share of the diet. |
| Northern Channel Islands; same 2015 study | About 40–45% marine fish and 40–45% seabirds | Fish and seabirds each formed substantial estimated shares. |
| Adak and Tanaga Islands, Aleutian Archipelago; 1999 study of nesting eagles | 56% fish | Fish accounted for a large reported share in this island group. |
| Amchitka and Kiska Islands, Aleutian Archipelago; 1999 study of nesting eagles | 10% fish and 60% birds | Birds, rather than fish, made up the largest reported share. |
The Channel Islands estimates came from prey remains and stable-isotope analysis. The Aleutian figures are from a separate study record. Because the locations and study approaches differ, these figures should not be combined into one species-wide average. Ornithological Applications: Foraging ecology of a reintroduced population of breeding Bald Eagles on the Channel Islands; U.S. Geological Survey: Productivity, diets, and environmental contaminants in nesting bald eagles from the Aleutian Archipelago
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Bald eagles are not fish specialists in every setting. Coastal eagles may eat marine fish and seabirds, while other available prey can include waterfowl, shorebirds, small mammals, marine invertebrates, and carrion. An eagle may also steal prey from another animal. The mix reflects the food accessible in its particular habitat, so the island study results are examples of local diets rather than a fixed rule for the species.
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