Of course, vultures and Bald Eagles scavenge dead stuff, but did you know that all raptors do this from time to time. I have seen almost every raptor do this, or steal dead prey from another raptor, it's part of survival!

I have seen Golden Eagles feeding on deer carcasses, buteos feeding on roadkill, Ospreys eating clams (which technically may have been alive), and even falcons taking advantage of a food source that wasn't alive. Raptors even feed on food that you normally wouldn't associate them with, especially if they are hungry! I caught an adult Red-tail and a juvenile Golden Eagle on a salmon carcass we had laid out as bait for Bald Eagles during a telemetry project along the Skagit River in northwest Washington. My friend, Christian Nunes has images of Red-tails (including a Harlan's) eating a carcass he captured on a remote camera. All birds are opportunistic, like most animals on earth. Here are some pics of a Bald Eagle and Harriers eating dead fish, a Harrier eating a duck it scavenged, and a Turkey Vulture eating a grebe washed up on a beach in CA (gross).

 Bald Eagle

 Northern Harrier

 Northern Harrier

 Northern Harrier

 Turkey Vulture