Adult Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Snatches a Seagull

Observation by David Harmes:

I saw an Adult Bald Eagle snatch a Seagull, right off the water. I saw an Adult Bald Eagle circle towards a Seagull. I watched the seagull, thinking the eagle would either swoop in, taking what the seagull was interested in, or the eagle would just fly away. To my surprise, the eagle snatched the seagull right off the water, without disturbing the water, more than if the seagull magically disappeared. That eagle must be hungry, to grab a seagull. Normally, eagles ignore seagulls, other than to see what they have to eat, and take it away. It all happen so fast, and out of the ordinary that I did not even take my camera out, for pictures. Makes me think it is going to be hungry out here for the predators this winter, if Eagles are already eating seagulls.

Comments from LEO Editors:

Although fish is the primary food for eagles, they will also hunt small mammals and waterfowl based on availability. In addition to hunting, they may also scavenge, or steal food from other animals. Source: National Eagle Center Erica Lujan