{"id":9577,"date":"2021-09-30T09:33:09","date_gmt":"2021-09-30T09:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=9577"},"modified":"2022-04-05T19:16:40","modified_gmt":"2022-04-05T19:16:40","slug":"how-much-weight-can-an-eagle-carry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/how-much-weight-can-an-eagle-carry\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Weight Can An Eagle Carry?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Eagles are known for being fierce hunters, but they are extremely lightweight for their size. Have you ever seen an eagle carrying prey or tree branches in its talons? Perhaps you\u2019re wondering, how much weight can an eagle carry? Can eagles carry off dogs or humans? Keep reading! In this article, we\u2019ll answer all of these questions and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Much Weight Can an Eagle Carry Away?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Eagles are majestic creatures protected in the United States<\/a> by law. But despite their wide wingspan and powerful talons, they can\u2019t carry a whole lot of weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exactly how much weight an eagle can carry depends on the species. Most species can only carry a few pounds at a time. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, bald eagles generally weigh about 10 to 12 pounds and can carry about one third of their own weight. So the average amount of weight a bald eagle can carry is 3 to 4 pounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several factors that affect this number, however.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some bald eagles are larger and stronger than others; these may be able to carry a slightly higher amount of weight. The eagle\u2019s age may also play a role; mature eagles in their prime will be able to carry more weight than very young or very old eagles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another important factor is momentum–how fast the eagle is flying and how much they have to slow down to pick up their load. In general, greater airspeed allows them to carry more weight because their momentum aids their strength. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A bald eagle (or any eagle, for that matter) can snatch a large fish or a bird of prey<\/a> while in flight, often barely slowing their flight pattern in the process. They can carry a heavier load this way than if they had to land first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As stated by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game<\/a>, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn eagle that lands on the beach to grab a fish, and then takes off again, is limited to a smaller load than an eagle that swoops down at 20 or 30 miles an hour and snatches up a fish. That momentum and speed gives the bird the ability to carry more weight.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of exact weight, eagles can\u2019t travel as far with heavier loads as they can with lighter loads. If they are unable to transport a large kill all at once, they will sometimes divide their prey into smaller chunks and transport them to the nest in separate pieces.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the Heaviest an Eagle Can Carry?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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In North America, a bald eagle may be able to carry up to 7 or 8 pounds if conditions are ideal. Golden eagles may be able to carry a bit more, but even most of the largest eagles in the world will not be able to carry more than 10 or 12 pounds at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The harpy eagle is a notable exception. This giant jungle-dwelling eagle can haul up to 20 pounds at once under ideal conditions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are these ideal conditions we keep referring to? To be able to carry the maximum amount of weight, an eagle would need the following conditions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n