If you’ve ever wondered, “Do eagles eat snakes?” you’re not alone. As majestic birds of prey, eagles capture the imagination when it comes to what they hunt and eat.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Yes, some species of eagles do eat snakes as part of their varied diets.
In this detailed guide, we’ll cover everything you wanted to know about eagles and snakes, including which eagle species eat snakes, how they capture snake prey, what kinds of snakes they eat, and how important snakes are to different eagles’ diets.
Do All Eagle Species Eat Snakes?
Not all eagle species have a taste for snakes. The diet of eagles depends greatly on their habitat and what food sources are available in their local environment. However, many species will opportunistically eat snakes when they are able to capture them.
Bald Eagles
The bald eagle is found across North America and lives near large bodies of open water, rivers, lakes and coastal areas where fish make up the bulk of its diet. Bald eagles will occasionally eat snakes but prefer to hunt fish, waterfowl or small mammals.
A field study in Arizona found snakes made up less than 2% of studied bald eagles’ prey items.
Golden Eagles
The golden eagle has an extensive range across the Northern Hemisphere. These large birds of prey are powerful hunters and regularly prey on snakes, including rattlesnakes in North America. Snakes make up around 15% of golden eagles’ mammal diet.
Golden eagles use their agility and sharp talons to snatch snakes, lizards and other reptiles.
African Fish Eagles
As the name suggests, fish are the primary prey for Africa’s iconic fish eagle. These eagles are found widely across sub-Saharan Africa in areas near rivers, lakes and wetlands where fish are abundant.
There is no record of the African fish eagle hunting reptiles or snakes, likely because they are so highly specialized for catching fish.
Philippine Eagles
The richly forested islands of the Philippines are home to the spectacular great Philippine eagle. This eagle’s diet is composed mainly of mammals and birds including flying lemurs, civets, hornbills and parrots.
A 10-year study of Philippine eagles’ prey items found snakes and reptiles made up less than 3% of observed kills, though notably they did sometimes hunt reticulated pythons.
How Do Eagles Catch and Eat Snakes?
Eagles have mastered the art of hunting and feeding on snakes over the course of evolution. Their powerful vision, razor-sharp talons, and precise technique make them formidable predators of serpents.
Eagle Vision and Identifying Snake Prey
Eagles have some of the sharpest vision in the animal kingdom, with eyesight up to 8 times stronger than humans. They can spot snake prey from impressive distances in varied terrain. An eagle’s fovea has a high density of photoreceptors, allowing enhanced visual acuity to lock onto snakes basking or moving through vegetation.
Swooping Down and Grasping Snakes
Once prey is identified, the eagle will initiate its attack by entering into a swift, spiraling nose-dive towards the target snake. Talons will open wide to maximize grasping power as the raptor nears its victim.
With lightning fast speed, the back talons will strike first to prevent escape and instantly dispatch prey. The front talons securely grab the snake to carry and transport it to a feeding perch.
Feeding Behaviors and Preventing Danger
An eagle will not immediately feed on a freshly caught snake, but will first wait for movement to stop. This prevents surprise counterattacks and escaping prey. Eagles are careful to avoid the snake’s head, instead starting to feed on the body.
The raptor will use its powerful beak to cut firm chunks of flesh and bone from its meal. This technique also eliminates immediate poisoning threats from venom released when a snake’s head is attacked.
Through their specialized hunting abilities and feeding behaviors, eagles can safely and effectively catch and consume snake prey as part of their diet.
What Kinds of Snakes Do Eagles Prey On?
Species of Snakes
Eagles are powerful predators that feed on a variety of prey, including many species of snakes. Some of the most common snake species eagles prey upon include:
- Garter snakes – These small, nonvenomous snakes are found throughout North America and are a frequent food source for bald and golden eagles.
- Rattlesnakes – Large venomous pit vipers like western diamondback rattlesnakes are regularly taken by eagles.
- Rat snakes – Found across the U.S., these large constrictors provide a lot of meat for eagles.
- Racers and whipsnakes – Fast-moving colubrid snakes are commonly taken by eagles when encountered.
- Water snakes – Species found near waterways and wetlands are preyed on by eagles, like northern water snakes.
- Gopher snakes – These widespread colubrids are taken from their underground burrows by golden and bald eagles.
In general, eagles tend to target snakes that are common in their local habitat. The diversity of snakes in the eagle’s range determines the variety of snake species they can hunt. Many eagles have adapted to safely hunting venomous snakes when they are abundant, using their powerful talons to pin them behind the head.
Venomous or Non-Venomous
Eagles will prey on both venomous and non-venomous snake species. Here is an overview:
- Non-venomous snakes – Garter snakes, rat snakes, racers, and others provide a low-risk snake prey source for eagles.
- Mildly venomous snakes – Certain rear-fanged colubrid snakes have mild venom that eagles can tolerate.
- Dangerously venomous snakes – More aggressive pit vipers like rattlesnakes are regularly hunted by eagles due to their adaptations for handling venomous snakes safely.
One study of golden eagle prey in Idaho found that mildly venomous gopher snakes made up 11% of prey items, while venomous prairie rattlesnakes accounted for 15% of the eagle’s diet. This demonstrates that eagles are adept at hunting different snake types.
Interestingly, some eagles have shown resistance to the venom of local snake species. For example, Philippine eagles feed on cobras and have shown immunity to their deadly venom. This allows them to prey on dangerous snakes that other animals avoid.
| Snake Type | Examples | Risks to Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Non-venomous | Garter snakes, rat snakes | Minimal risk |
| Mildly venomous | Rear-fanged colubrids | Low risk |
| Dangerously venomous | Rattlesnakes, cobras | Higher risk but adapted |
Importance of Snakes in Eagle Diets
Snakes make up an integral part of many eagles’ diets. As carnivorous raptors, eagles depend on consuming meat to survive, and snakes can provide a convenient protein-rich food source. Understanding the interplay between eagles and snakes in the food chain helps showcase the ecological roles these species play.
Prevalence of Snakes in Eagle Diets
Research shows that snakes feature heavily in the meals of various eagle species. For example, a 2006 study published in the Journal of Raptor Research that examined the breeding season diet of the Spanish imperial eagle found that 49.5% of identified prey items were snakes.
Another older study of wintering bald eagles in Arizona reported that a staggering 84% of prey remains found at roost sites belonged to snakes. Field observations confirm that many eagles frequently hunt and consume various snake species.
What drives this dietary preference for snakes? Eagles likely target snakes for several key reasons:
- Abundance: Snakes often occur in large numbers and high densities in habitats where eagles hunt.
- Accessibility: Snakes tend to be relatively slow or exposed, making them easy for eagles to swoop down on.
- Nutrition: Snakes provide a rich source of protein, fat, and calories to fuel eagles’ metabolic needs.
Snake Species Targeted
Eagles feed on a wide variety of snake species. These include both venomous and non-venomous snakes, large constrictors, and small garden snakes. Some research shows distinct seasonal differences in the types of snakes taken.
A study in Israel revealed that short-toed eagles preferred to hunt small snakes like whip snakes and coin-marked snakes during summer, while shifting focus to feed on more dangerous viper species in winter.
The boldness to attack venomous snakes likely depends partly on the size and power of the eagle species.
| Eagle Species | Snake Species Eaten |
|---|---|
| Bald eagle | Rattlesnakes, racers, garter snakes |
| Golden eagle | Rattlesnakes, rat snakes, adders |
| Martial eagle | Puff adders, cobras, pythons |
Ecological Significance
The extensive predation pressure eagles exert on snakes has important implications for the functioning of ecosystems they inhabit.
On one hand, eagles help control snake populations to prevent overpopulation. This protects other prey species lower on the food chain. However, eagles also compete for snake resources with other major snake predators like secretary birds, mongooses, and hedgehogs.
Eagles themselves also face dangers from the venomous snakes they feed on. One analysis found evidence of snake venoms in almost 10% of sampled golden eagle carcasses, showing they do sometimes fall victim.
But despite hazards, most eagles skillfully handle snake prey – an amazing sight reminding us of nature’s risk and resilience.
Conclusion
As we’ve explored, not all eagles eat snakes, but for those that do, these legless reptiles can provide an important part of their varied diet in the wild. Understanding the hunting and feeding behaviors of different eagle species continues to fascinate both experts and casual observers alike.
