Based on the research, an eagle can see around 2 miles under normal weather conditions. They have a high-resolution vision, four times more than humans. The eyes of the eagles have noteworthy traits that make them adapted to see long distances and can focus on minute details even when the eagle is flying.
So, let’s get to facts and understand how the vision of the eagle helps them in hunting or detecting prey or fish present underneath the water’s surface.
How Does the Eagle’s Eye Look?
Eagle’s eyes are known to have 8 times sharper vision than humans, which helps them to spot prey or threats even from a great distance or while flying.
Eagles have two foveae, which are areas of acute vision and they help them with their remarkable sighting capability. These foveae being grouped together tightly, help the eagle to see smaller details even when they are far away.
They have two types of vision, central and peripheral, a combination of which helps them to have a clear idea about the distance of the prey or object, as it helps them with a wider field of vision. They have larger eyes in proportion to their body size, which helps them in adapting their eyesight and navigate through different environments.
The placement of the eagle’s eyes also helps them to get a panoramic view and they can also spot a running prey. Their eyes give them the ability to track UV rays that get reflected from the wet skin or urine of the prey.
Eagles have distinct sharp color vision, due to the presence of high-density cone cells, can perceive fine details, and have the ability to accurately detect depth perception due to their binocular vision. The rod cells in their eyes help them to see in low-light conditions.
The muscular eyeballs help them to focus on objects even if they are at a distance, that too quickly, as they control the shape of the eyeballs, giving them visual acuity.
What Makes Eagles’ Eyes Exceptional?
The eagles have their eyes angled at 30 degrees from the midline of the face and so they have a vision field of 340 degrees. Thus, it makes them birds of prey and well-equipped hunters. They can spot and lock their target way before they hunt them owing to their perfect eyesight. The eagles can spot predators from a distance and prepare themselves to protect their territory. The factors that aid their exceptional vision are their large eyes, high density of light-receptive cone cells, and placement of the eyes.
Can Eagles See at Night?
Yes, eagles can see at night but their vision is not well-equipped with the low light to catch prey. They lack the rod cells in their eyes that can enhance their night vision. However, they can fly at night and often use their hearing sense to either detect threats or prey.
At What Height Can an Eagle See?
An eagle can see from a height of 10,000 to 20,000 feet from sea level, which allows them to spot their prey easily and also get an aerial view of the entire area. They can see clearly, even when they are flying at a speed of 100 miles per hour or diving to catch the prey at a speed of 150 mph. However, they cannot stay at this height for a long time, as there is less oxygen and also it becomes quite difficult to fly after some time due to lack of proper air currents.
How are Eagles’ Eyes Adapted for Hunting?
Eagles’ eyes are adapted to help them hunt efficiently and here’s how:
- They have binocular vision with forward-facing eyes to help them focus on a point and calculate the accurate distance.
- Their eyes create a three-dimensional perspective which helps them while hunting in open space.
- Eagles also have exceptional depth perception to understand the distance between them and their prey.
- They have enhanced color vision quality and the ability to see UV light to detect the patterns of the prey.
- Their eyes focus or adjust rapidly, which helps them to maintain a clear vision, even when they are moving at high speed.
Can Eagles’ Ability to See Far Get Affected?
Yes, there are certain factors that can affect the eagle’s ability to see at a distance, such as –
- Pollution, or the presence of dust, pollen, or other particulates in the air
- If the weather is not optimum, such as foggy, raining, or snowing, then it reduces their visual range.
- Their eyes are not well-equipped to see at night.
- The terrain type also causes a hindrance in the identification of the prey.
- Man-made structures such as buildings, bridges, etc, also make it difficult for them to see distant objects.
- If the eagle is unwell or suffering from blindness, it won’t be able to see clearly.
- If the eagle is old or aged, or a baby, then they do not have the ability to see far.
How Does Eagle’s UV Perception Help Them?
Owing to their UV vision, they can track the movement of the prey, even if it is not visible to others’ eyes, so they can spot hidden animals. UV vision also helps them to detect the markings and patterns on potential nesting sites, so they can find a secure location for their offspring. They can also detect variations in plumage and body language, which is only visible to them due to the UV rays, allowing them to communicate and bond easily.
Which Eagles have the Best Eyesight?
There are more than 150 variants of eagles and each has a different vision. The bald eagle is known to have a great vision when compared with others. However, there is a debate that the golden eagle has better eyesight as it can detect the prey from a much greater distance.
What is the Exact Visual Distance of an Eagle?
It is quite hard to estimate the exact distance at which an eagle can see because it depends on several factors, such as – the species of eagle, the lighting condition, and the size and contrast of the object or prey.
Can Eagles See Red Colour?
Yes, partially. Eagles have a different way of perceiving colors when compared with humans. They can perceive wavelengths that are close to red on the color spectrum. But, their color vision is limited and they cannot see the full range of colors.
Can Eagles See 50 Miles Away?
It is a complete myth that eagles can spot their prey from any distance, and they can see from 50 miles away. Their visual capability is up to 4 miles and doesn’t exceed that.
