Bald eagles are strong aggressive birds but like everything that flies, they are governed by aerodynamics. The wings of an eagle need to support the 8 to 12-pound bird as well as whatever the bird is carrying and best estimates put the lifting power of an eagle at about 4 pounds. That varies, however, depending on the circumstances. Lift is dependent on air speed as well as wing size. The faster a bird (or airplane) is flying, the greater the lift potential. An eagle that lands on the beach to grab a fish and take off is limited to a smaller load than an eagle that swoops down at 20 or 30 miles an hour and snatches up a fish. Momentum and speed give the bird the ability to carry more weight.

Loading comments...

Loading contexts...

Make:	Canon
Model:	Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Exposure:	1/3200 sec
Aperture:	f/7.1
ISO Speed:	800
Focal Length:	120 mm
Lens:	EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM