Animal Fact Sheet
Previous | Next
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
What does it look
like?
Golden eagles' plumage is dark brown with a golden wash over their
heads and necks, thus giving the species its name. Tails of adult
birds are brown with indistinct pale bands; those of immature birds
are white at the base with dark brown bands at the tip. Golden eagles
often soar with broad wings slightly uplifted.
- Females attain a length of about three feet from the tips of
their beaks to end of their tail feathers
- Golden eagles have wingspans of 80 to 88 inches, and can weight
up to 13 pounds
- Typical for birds of prey, males are smaller than females
|
| Where
in the world?
Golden eagles are found through most of the northern hemisphere.
In North America, they occur as far south as Mexico, but are most
common in the mountainous areas of the western United States and
Canada. They are rare in the eastern regions.
What are some behaviors?
Golden eagles have been regarded from ancient times as symbols of
power and courage because of their large size, superb aerial skills,
and inaccessibility of nest sites. Important to many Indian cultures
as symbols of power and strength, their feathers are used in rituals
and costumes.
What about offspring?
Golden eagles form long-term pair bonds. Courtship includes spectacular
vertical dives and upward swoops. Most nest on cliff ledges, but
in some areas, trees are preferred. Nests are large and coarsely
built of sticks and twigs. The same nest is used each year, and
the birds add more sticks so that the nest may be as much as six
feet in diameter and five feet high.
Usually they lay two eggs, although sometimes
one or three occur.
Although male golden eagles will brood newly
hatched chicks, their primary role is to hunt for food which they
bring back to the female at the nest. Females feed the young and
stay at or near the nest until the downy youngsters feather out.
At that time, she will resume hunting for food for the chicks while
the male's share of this activity diminishes. After the young mature,
they stay near the nest while still being fed by their parents.
|
|
What does it eat?
Diurnal predators, these swift birds hunt over open country for
insects, small mammals, snakes, birds and, when live prey is scarce,
will eat carrion.
Is it threatened
or endangered?
Because they need a large territorial range of 20 to 60 miles and
produce few offspring, habitat disturbances threaten some regions.
Overall though populations of golden eagles are healthy.
In 1962, golden eagles were fully protected from
hunting by both state and federal law. It is illegal to possess
any part of an eagle without a permit.
|
