Yes, Bald Eagles can swim.
As we witness this Bald Eagle wading and swimming on the surface of a pond, we hear the worried conversation between the onlookers as to whether what they are witnessing is a bird of prey in distress, or just another swimmer enjoying the weather. The eagle we see here is actually on the hunt.
🦅 Whoa! A bald eagle was spotted swimming to shore in Wolfeboro. Amazing! https://t.co/udTkenOeNS
📹: Tyler Blake / u local (upload here: https://t.co/bqKBGSxerF) pic.twitter.com/7jP9YnlRjP
— WMUR TV (@WMUR9) June 10, 2019
These majestic symbols of American might are masterful fishers. At the top of the food chain, these famous birds of prey hunt using an ambush method by soaring down to the surface of the water and grabbing a fish near the surface with their powerful talons, which are designed perfectly for clasping onto prey.
Eagles are strong swimmers and can easily take-off into flight from the water.
They can lift about 4 pounds aloft and consume a pound of fish in 4 minutes.
This eagle didn’t catch a fish during this swim. No problem.
As it exits the water, the eagle flaps its wings in a manner that seems to imply a “yeah, that just happened” attitude. Awesome.
