Golden Eagle

Golden Eagle, juvenile

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

Found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, the Golden Eagle is common in western North America, but rare in the East. It is one of the largest birds of prey in North America; only the Bald Eagle and California Condor get larger.

Description

• Very large raptor.
• Large hooked bill.
• Dark brown all over, with golden sheen on head.
• Very long and broad wings.
• Long broad tail.

• Size: 70-84 cm (28-33 in)
• Wingspan: 185-220 cm (73-87 in)
• Weight: 3000-6125 g (105.9-216.21 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes alike in plumage, female larger.

Sound

Call a high yelp.

Conservation Status

Declining in West, but increasing in East.

Other Names

Aigle royal (French)
Aguila real (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• Although capable of killing large prey such as cranes, wild ungulates, and domestic livestock, the Golden Eagle subsists primarily on rabbits, hares, ground squirrels, and prairie dogs.
• The Golden Eagle is the national emblem of Mexico.
• The Rough-legged Hawk, the Ferruginous Hawk, and the Golden Eagle are the only American hawks to have legs feathered all the way to the toes.

• The amount of white in the wings of a young Golden Eagle varies among individuals, and a few lack white in the wings entirely.

Sources used to construct this page:

Kochert, M. N., K. Steenhof, C. L. McIntyre, and E. H. Craig. 2002. Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). In The Birds of North America, No. 684 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.