The bald eagle is the national bird symbol of the United States of America. Known for its distinctive brown body and white head, the bald eagle is considered a majestic and powerful bird. Despite being a bird of prey that primarily soars high in the sky in search of food, the bald eagle has some notable swimming abilities.
Can bald eagles swim?
Yes, bald eagles can swim. While not as adept at swimming as aquatic birds like ducks, bald eagles are capable swimmers that use their large wings to propel themselves through water.
Eagles have water-resistant feathers that enable them to float well. Their webbed feet provide thrust and help propel them through water. Their powerful leg muscles also enable them to kick and paddle through water for swimming.
Why do bald eagles swim?
There are a few key reasons why bald eagles swim:
To chase prey
One of the main reasons bald eagles swim is to chase prey in the water. Their diet consists mainly of fish, making bodies of water prime hunting grounds. If they spot a fish near the surface, bald eagles will swoop down and swim after it. Their powerful talons allow them to grasp fish as they swim.
To maneuver in the water
Bald eagles sometimes need to maneuver in the water while hunting. They may swim to reposition themselves for an optimal angle to grab a fish. Their swimming ability lets them adeptly move through the water to secure their prey.
To retrieve prey
After catching fish or other prey, bald eagles sometimes unintentionally drop their catch into a body of water. When this happens, they will swim to retrieve their meal and bring it back to land or their nest. Their swimming skills come in handy for recovering dropped food.
For safety
In rare cases, bald eagles may fall into bodies of water if they lose control or get distracted in flight. If this happens, their swimming ability enables them to make it safely to shore. So while not a frequent need, swimming helps bald eagles in emergency situations.
To bathe
Like many birds, bald eagles swim and bathe in water to clean their feathers and skin. They will leisurely flap and dip through the water to bathe and groom themselves.
How well can bald eagles swim?
While capable swimmers, bald eagles do have some limitations in the water compared to specialized water birds. Here is an overview of their swimming abilities:
Stamina
Bald eagles have decent but limited stamina for swimming. They use a lot of energy swimming and can only stay in the water for brief periods before needing to rest. If they do not reach land soon, they may start to drown from exhaustion.
Speed
On land, bald eagles can reach speeds up to 100 mph while flying. In water, their maximum swimming speed is only about 3 mph. While respectable for a land bird, they cannot swim at high speeds or for prolonged periods.
Maneuverability
Their large wingspan makes bald eagles somewhat cumbersome swimmers. While they can capably steer and position themselves, they lack the agility and precision of specialized water birds.
Distance
Bald eagles can typically swim several hundred feet before needing to stop and rest. But they are not built for long-distance swimming of miles at a time.
Diving
Bald eagles can submerge their bodies partially to grab prey near the surface. However, they cannot dive deep under water due to their buoyant bodies and need to surface breathe.
So while bald eagles are capable swimmers, they do have limitations in speed, stamina, and maneuverability compared to water-specific birds. Their swimming skills are adapted for brief food-motivated dives, not prolonged aerobic swimming.
Interesting facts about bald eagles swimming
Here are some additional fascinating tidbits about bald eagles and their swimming abilities:
– Eagle chicks learn to swim before they can fly. By swimming, they build strength and coordination needed for flight.
– Bald eagles use an alternating stroke pattern when swimming, akin to a human doing the front crawl.
– To take off from water, bald eagles need enough space to flap their wings and build up speed. This can require a running start along the surface.
– Their feathers are coated with waterproof oils that prevent waterlogging. This helps them float high on the water.
– If they detect a suitable fish, bald eagles can plunge feet-first into the water to grab it with their talons.
– Collisions with power lines or other objects can knock bald eagles into bodies of water, forcing them to swim.
– They swim with their wings partially lifted to use as rudders for steering and propulsion.
– Young eagles sometimes playfully bathe and swim together, suggesting swimming may have a social element beyond food.
Conclusion
In summary, bald eagles are capable swimmers that regularly take to the water in pursuit of fish and other prey. Their water-resistant plumage and paddle-like wings allow them to swim effectively for short distances and brief periods. However, they lack the speed, stamina, and precision to be as nimble in the water as specialized aquatic birds. So while the bald eagle conquers the sky as its primary domain, its swimming ability gives it command of the waters surface as well in order to fully reign as king of the birds.