Zoo database

Piscivorous eagles

Aquila

Natural diet Piscivorous eagles

Eagles that primarily eat fish as part of their diet (often more than 80%) are typically found near water sources, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans. They are opportunistic carnivores that feed on a wide variety of fish species, depending on the availability and the size of the eagle. Occasionally, these species also consume other aquatic animals, mammals and other birds.

Fish
Fish
Vertebrates
Vertebrates

Feeding advice Piscivorous eagles

Feed quantity per day

5-10%

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 4.5 kg and eats 8% of its body weight, it will get
 
4.5 x 0.08 = 0.36 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

19% Meat and whole prey
80% Fish products
1% Supplements

Proportions (fresh product)

0.19 x 0.36 kg = 68 g meat and whole prey
0.8 x 0.36 kg = 288 g fish products
0.01 x 0.36 kg = 4 g supplements

Diet Suggestions

Recommended

Variety of fish/prey

Whole fish/prey

Supplements

Not recommended

Live prey

Common diseases

An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:

  • Metabolic bone disease
  • Amyloidosis
  • Bumblefoot
  • Molting Disorders
  • Obesity

Additional advice

  • Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over one feeding moment per day.
  • When feeding thawed whole prey, then supplementation is recommended.
  • The supplements should be given according to the appropriate dosage that is mentioned on the labelling.
  • Stimulate foraging behaviour by using stacking or hanging the prey. Another method is to use feed puzzles and feeding whole prey (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).

Species within this group

  • Bald eagle
  • White-tailed eagle
  • African fish eagle
  • Steller's sea eagle
  • White-bellied sea eagle
Piscivorous eagles | Kiezebrink